Om guds "udvalgte redskab", geniet, og visdommen, der "lod [sig] skabe"; en tak til samme gud, en accept af hans krav om sejr og en bøn om styrke og kraft 1913 - 1914

Curator: This compelling page from J.A. Jerichau’s notebook, dated 1913-1914, mixes ink, pencil, and colored pencil in a dynamic interplay. What captures your attention most about it? Editor: Well, besides the incredibly long title, "Om guds 'udvalgte redskab', geniet, og visdommen, der 'lod [sig] skabe'... " it really feels like a private, almost secretive glimpse into the artist’s mind, almost like reading someone's diary. What do you see in this work? Curator: It's precisely that intimacy, the feeling of unfiltered expression, that interests me. This page functions as both a visual and textual exploration of faith, genius, and divine purpose at a time when Europe was on the cusp of immense change. It represents a highly personal intersection of art, spirituality, and societal anxiety. Editor: Societal anxiety? Could you elaborate? Curator: The early 20th century was a period of profound upheaval, questioning established norms in art, science, and politics. The rise of industrialization, the questioning of religious authority, and the growing sense of impending conflict are all reflected here, perhaps subconsciously, in Jerichau's desperate grappling with concepts of God's will and human potential. Consider the chaotic yet controlled handwriting, almost like a plea or incantation on paper. Editor: So you're saying the act of writing itself becomes an act of resistance, or perhaps of seeking solace in a rapidly changing world? Curator: Exactly. The personal becomes political, and the spiritual is intertwined with the material conditions of existence. This page then represents Jerichau’s struggle to reconcile individual artistic vision with the broader forces shaping society. It’s interesting to me how Jerichau appropriates calligraphy here. How does that affect your understanding? Editor: I never thought about it that way! It certainly casts the work in a new light. I appreciate seeing the piece as part of a larger historical context and the personal anxieties of the artist. Curator: Absolutely! Understanding art as a product of its time, a reflection of socio-political currents and inner turmoil, enriches our understanding.