Torsdag. Jupiter med lynet i højre hånd 1743 - 1809

Curator: This drawing by Nicolai Abildgaard, titled *Torsdag. Jupiter med lynet i højre hånd*, which roughly translates to Thursday. Jupiter with lightning in his right hand, was created between 1743 and 1809, using ink and charcoal. It's a captivating piece. Editor: It definitely has a powerful feel. The use of ink and charcoal gives it a kind of dramatic intensity. How would you approach understanding a work like this, especially considering its classical subject matter and time period? Curator: I'd look at it through the lens of material production. How did the availability and cost of ink and charcoal in the late 18th and early 19th centuries affect Abildgaard's artistic practice? What kind of labor was involved in producing these materials, and how might that labor be reflected in the artwork itself? Editor: That's a very different angle than what I expected! So, you are less interested in the myth of Jupiter itself? Curator: The subject isn't irrelevant, but consider the societal implications embedded in it. This is a god representing power depicted during a period of intense social upheaval. We must investigate how the materials themselves—the very stuff that constitutes the image—connect to those realities of labor and consumption at that time. Was Abildgaard commenting on societal power dynamics through his artistic process, maybe unconsciously, by his choice of readily available, less ‘noble’ materials such as ink? Editor: That's fascinating! Thinking about art as a product of its material circumstances opens up so many new avenues for interpretation. I usually focus more on the symbolism, but considering the actual stuff it's made of... Curator: Precisely. By acknowledging materiality, we disrupt the established artistic hierarchies. We can better question notions of "high" and "low" art. Editor: I’ll definitely remember to think about materials more consciously now when I analyze art. Thanks. Curator: Likewise, this dialogue helped sharpen my perspective. Always look beyond the surface.