To børn med en krabbe. En lille pige, der ligger på knæ i sandet, viser en krabbe til en lille dreng 1854

Editor: So, this marble sculpture, dating from 1854, is entitled 'Two Children with a Crab'. It's by Stephan Ussing and it has a real sense of tenderness, don't you think? A girl kneeling, carefully showing a crab to a young boy. It's charming. What do you make of it? Curator: It absolutely breathes tenderness. I see a fleeting moment frozen in stone – an encounter with nature mediated through the careful hands of a child. Think about what marble does. It lends a kind of eternal quality, doesn't it? Almost deifying this simple act of curiosity. Makes me think about childhood summers, poking around in rockpools...Do you think that classical reference heightens the sentimental tone? Editor: That's a good point! The classical style makes it feel both intimate and universal. It's more than just these specific children, right? It's an image of childhood itself. But I also find the crab quite jarring. Curator: Jarring in what way? Does the uncouthness of the crab disrupt the almost idyllic quality you mention? It isn’t a fluffy lamb. And you have a small drama. He is slightly repelled but relies on her and has her trust. Childhood involves discovery. It has an exciting new element brought into play. What’s in the grasp, but slightly scary. How interesting. Editor: Exactly! It brings a realness to it. So, the universal themes grounded in something immediate and perhaps even a bit frightening. Curator: Absolutely! We see innocence tempered with the thrill of discovery and a hint of…discomfort, perhaps. A moment that feels incredibly real. Editor: That interplay really brings the sculpture to life for me now. The eternal, yet deeply present. Thanks! Curator: It’s amazing what can be said with marble and children! It makes us reflect.