Politikeren Orla Lehmann 1856

This is a bronze bust of the politician Orla Lehmann, made by H.W. Bissen. Consider the material: bronze. Bissen wasn't merely shaping clay; he was overseeing a complex sequence of processes. The original clay model, from which a mold was taken, then molten bronze poured in - and finally, chased and polished. This division of labor would have been key to the artistic effect. It's not just about likeness, it's about power. Bronze as a substance has a sense of permanence, of a classical heritage. The whole production process - mining the ore, smelting, casting - speaks to the rise of industrial capitalism. This connects directly to Lehmann's role as a politician, an agitator for Danish constitutional reform. The bronze encapsulates the weight of history, as well as the weight of production, which brings the artwork to life. In appreciating such a bust, we recognize that the artistry lies not just in the sculptor’s hand, but also in the broader social and economic context that gave rise to it.