Portræt af Generalmajor L. Koefoed 1901

Frans Schwartz made this portrait of Generalmajor L. Koefoed using etching. Portraits of military figures were often commissioned to project an image of authority. Note Koefoed’s formal attire, complete with medals, sash, and high collar. As a Generalmajor, Koefoed would have been part of the Danish ruling class, likely with strong ties to the monarchy. Schwartz made this portrait during a time of shifting national identity in Denmark. Following military defeats, Denmark was seeking to redefine its place in Europe. Consider what this image communicates about Danish national identity at the time. Does it reinforce traditional representations of power? How might Schwartz have approached this commission, and what choices did he make in portraying Koefoed? The emotional tenor of the image is muted; it is neither celebratory nor critical. Ultimately, it is a study of a man, and perhaps also of a nation, at a crossroads.