Frederik IV 1859 - 1860

Curator: Here we have a portrait of Frederik IV, created between 1859 and 1860 by Bernhard Olsen. It’s a print, more specifically, an engraving. Editor: It feels immediately…stiff. All that intricate detail and the monochromatic palette creates an air of formality that verges on the oppressive. I can almost hear the scratching of the engraver's tool on the plate. Curator: Well, prints like this served an important function. They democratized access to royal imagery. They circulated the image of power, solidifying its presence in the public imagination. Frederik IV, of course, was King of Denmark and Norway in the early 18th century. Editor: The patterning is remarkable, look at the textures Olsen coaxes from a simple engraved line: The sheen of the satin, the heft of that fur stole, the embroidery on the coat... each a codified signifier of status. Do you see anything of visual interest here? Curator: That Order of the Elephant medallion catches the eye. Its symbolic weight is immense, signaling the King's authority and divine right. Also, the positioning of the subject—center of the artwork, powerful frontality—and use of verticality underscore the king’s regal stature, Editor: Absolutely. And while technically accomplished, it also feels… replicated. It is an image of power, sure, but also an image about an image of power, once-removed. The inherent nature of a print means there can be many. The effect flattens, in my view. Curator: But that dissemination is the very point! The engraving translates royal prestige into a readily accessible form. It imprints the memory of the monarch upon the popular mind, embedding the idea of the monarch in history, culture, and memory. Editor: Perhaps. Still, I find the engraving process a distancing agent. So many decisions made during its crafting leave little emotional charge to its making and viewing. Curator: Perhaps that distance is the necessary space for the symbol to operate, like any language, across all barriers and people. Editor: An interesting interpretation. For me, this engraving offers a glimpse into how power projected an image and a brand into a pre-photographic era. The material nature and symbolism blend. Curator: A fruitful paradox in historical symbolism to ponder as we continue. Thank you for the formal inspection of it!