Den grundlovgivende forsamling 1819 - 1880

Constantin Hansen made this oil on canvas painting titled, 'Den grundlovgivende forsamling'. The artist uses a traditional medium - oil paint - to capture an important historical moment, most likely in a similarly traditional way. And yet, if you look closely, you see that the artist has applied the paint in such a way that the painting remains very much a painting. Hansen's brushwork gives the painting a vibrancy and immediacy that transcends the historical setting. You can clearly see the marks of the brush in the quick and loose strokes, particularly in the background. In many ways, Hansen’s work is an ode to the labor and skill involved in the act of creation, making sure that his presence as the artist is felt through the material application of paint on canvas, rather than trying to hide himself from view.