"Susanne for det tænkte Råd". Udkast til eller studie efter kunstnerens maleri med samme motiv 1913 - 1914

Curator: Let’s consider this drawing, "Susanne for det tænkte Råd," created between 1913 and 1914 by J.A. Jerichau. It is a study, likely for a painting with the same motif, and can be found here at the SMK. It is rendered with watercolor and colored pencil on paper. Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by its chaotic beauty. The figures are abstracted, almost floating, but their implied narratives feel quite urgent and intensely alive, doesn't it? Like glimpsing something raw. Curator: Yes, Jerichau, coming from a well-known artistic family, often wrestled with grand themes, and you see some in this sketch. The subject, referring to Susanne, addresses notions of justice, moral contemplation and judgement which would become pertinent in European politics during and after WW1. It portrays what’s known as Susanna and the Elders; this is more of a symbolic portrayal for his grander work. Editor: Oh, so Susanne is Susanna from the Apocrypha! That’s where I recognise it from. I like how Jerichau doesn't present her passively. Instead, these figures are arranged, piled upon each other with that swirling colour wash it's evocative of struggle. It is interesting to wonder, given the date of its making, what it anticipates of the conflict erupting in Europe! It's a small piece, but so densely packed emotionally. I wonder, would one call the drawing a claustrophobic piece, given the confines? Curator: The compression certainly enhances the psychological drama, placing viewers amidst a scene rife with internal and external conflict. It mirrors a society on the brink of transformation and indeed of facing judgement for the ages. Editor: Which, as the saying goes, we see ourselves also in, now more than ever. Seeing Susanna there too. How fascinating that a little watercolour sketch could hold so much historical resonance. Curator: Precisely, that’s where Jerichau situates himself!