Musikken 1850 - 1902

John Börjeson sculpted *Musikken* from bronze sometime before his death in 1910. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, which gives it superior properties for casting. The lost-wax process, used here, involves creating a wax model, investing it in a mold, melting out the wax, and then pouring in molten bronze. The figure of a musician playing the violin towers over a seated figure, draped in classical robes. The bronze material lends the sculpture a sense of permanence, while the careful modelling of its surface conveys texture and form. The making of this sculpture involved not only Börjeson’s artistic vision, but also the labor of skilled foundry workers who executed the casting process. Bronze casting has a rich history, stretching back to antiquity, with the techniques and tools involved largely unchanged for centuries. This sculpture embodies both artistic expression and industrial production, raising questions about the value of artistic creation versus skilled labor. Understanding the material and its making allows us to challenge conventional hierarchies between fine art and craft.