Portræt af kommandør Sølling 1765 - 1844

Editor: We’re looking at "Portrait of Commander Sölling," a lithograph from between 1765 and 1844 by Christian Horneman. The stern gaze and crisp lines give the portrait a real sense of authority and old-world charm, wouldn’t you agree? The poem underneath and the sailing motifs on the side are striking. What's your take on this work, as a piece that feels both like a historical document and something more… lyrical? Curator: Ah, Sölling. He has that Nordic seafaring gravitas, doesn't he? But look closer – past the assured lines, past the naval commander, past even the meticulously etched frigate. There's a story in the *surface* of that print. Imagine the artist's hand coaxing those tones from the stone, line by painstaking line! I think Horneman really captured a sense of maritime pride, using this slightly grainy texture. It reminds me of ships weathered by sea air and a hint of mortality… Don’t you find it poetic that a lithograph – born of stone – depicts a life intertwined with the sea? Editor: That's a lovely way to put it. Now I’m wondering about the poem below – do you think that gives us more insight? Curator: Absolutely! It seals it, really. See the mix of honor ("Commander," "Knight of the Dannebrog") and humbleness ("Fisherman, Pilot")? Horneman presents Sölling as *part* of the sea's narrative, not just its master. And consider the use of ships as symbols of hope and loss. Editor: So it's not just about celebrating a commander, it's more about celebrating that relationship to the sea. Thanks – I feel I understand so much more about the artistic intention here. Curator: And I believe I now know where I should be taking my next sailing vacation.