Udsigt fra Gl. Strand over Højbro til Børsen 1845

Curator: What strikes me first is its ephemeral nature. It is ghostly and feels unfinished, almost as though a memory is fading away. Editor: Well, this is "View from Gl. Strand over Højbro to Børsen" created around 1845 by Martinus Rørbye. He employed a simple medium - pencil on paper. Look closely; it’s far from unfinished. This isn't an accident of execution. Curator: I see a subtle critique of urban life emerging, though. The ghostly figures seem disconnected, almost alienated from their environment. Do you think it reflects a societal shift, a commentary on the emerging modern city? Editor: I agree. You can see the hand of the artist so plainly at work. The social context is also very interesting: Romanticism was interested in nation building through its aesthetic work. Curator: Romanticism, especially within a Danish context, certainly sought to define a national identity. And the deliberate portrayal of these national buildings contributes to that identity construction, situating Danish power in the landscape itself. What about the people in the drawing, how might their role be perceived within a narrative around labor and value? Editor: Interesting idea to see the labor! It looks, instead, like sketches after completion for a potential buyer. One can look at art to perceive value. But it certainly suggests something about who is depicted. The choice to sketch these subjects going about their ordinary business does speak to a desire to situate Denmark as both advanced and industrious in a world of increasing capitalism. Curator: Precisely! It also touches upon gender roles; we can't assume who is going to the labor market in those drawings. The artist perhaps opens a space for dialogue, maybe questioning the prevailing societal norms about identity. Editor: True! Curator: Thank you, exploring the interplay of material reality and social representation has revealed richer meanings than I initially imagined! Editor: Indeed, looking at how something is made and whom is in the view creates so many points of view. I am also leaving with much to consider!