Kompositionsstudier 1879 - 1910

Oluf Hartmann created this study with pencil on paper; though undated, it belongs to a time when artists explored modern life through the human figure. Hartmann lived in a society grappling with changing norms, reflected in his portrayal of the female form. These figures, rendered with sensitivity, offer more than simple representation. The standing figure challenges historical conventions, standing nude with a sense of self-possession rather than vulnerability, while the seated figure assumes a more traditional pose. Consider the act of looking itself; who is invited to look, and what does it mean to be seen? How might these images of women speak to the silent dialogues around gender roles? Hartmann’s studies invite us to contemplate the interplay between artist, model, and viewer, and how these dynamics are embedded in art history.