The Sculptor Jens Adolf Jerichau, the Artist's Husband 1846

Elisabeth Jerichau Baumann painted this portrait of her husband, the sculptor Jens Adolf Jerichau, in an unknown year using oil on canvas. It presents an intriguing view into the artistic and social circles of 19th-century Denmark. Baumann's decision to depict her husband, not just as a spouse but as a fellow artist, challenges the conventional gender roles of the time, where women were often relegated to domestic spheres. We see the sculptor with his tools: a stone in his left hand and a pipe in his right. The painting subtly critiques the established artistic institutions of the day and hints at the complex dynamics within artistic marriages. By portraying her husband in this manner, Baumann asserts her position within the art world. To fully appreciate this work, historians delve into letters, diaries, and exhibition records, to better understand the social conditions that shaped its creation and reception. The meaning of this portrait shifts as our understanding of its social and institutional context evolves.