"Marie Jerichau 10½ år gammel" 1861

Editor: We're looking at "Marie Jerichau, 10 ½ years old," a pencil drawing by Elisabeth Jerichau Baumann, created in 1861. It’s a very delicate, almost ethereal portrait. There’s something very vulnerable and innocent about the subject. What stands out to you in this work? Curator: Oh, vulnerability is spot on. For me, it's the light; the way Baumann uses minimal contrast. It feels less about perfect likeness and more about capturing a fleeting impression of youth. It’s like trying to hold onto a memory of childhood – do you get that sense too? It’s not about flawless representation. Editor: Yes, absolutely! It's interesting you mention the light, as there’s a softness, created by the limited contrast and shading. You can sense how light this is, how fast it has been made! What can you tell us about Elisabeth as the Artist? Curator: Now, Baumann, she was a firebrand! A successful portraitist in a male-dominated world. Imagine, she was celebrated for her naturalistic style and was committed to depicting children in an earnest fashion. Some suggest that Jerichau Bauman broke norms by placing her subject at an eye level, rather than from a higher standing point! How's that for female agency and expression? Editor: That’s so interesting about Elisabeth´s way of seeing women in her artistic production! Now I feel like the young lady Marie is meeting my glance directly in an act of collaboration. It feels less like observation and more like engagement now! Thank you! Curator: You see! It’s those unexpected encounters and details, isn’t it? Sometimes, a single line, a shared glance across centuries – that’s where the magic happens!