To nøgne mænd, løbende mod højre, hver med en stor sten i den ene hånd, samt en skitse af ansigt i profil 1743 - 1809

Editor: Okay, so this drawing, made with ink on paper, is titled "To nøgne mænd, løbende mod højre, hver med en stor sten i den ene hånd, samt en skitse af ansigt i profil"—which roughly translates to "Two Nude Men, Running to the Right, Each with a Large Stone in One Hand, Plus a Sketch of a Face in Profile"—and it was created sometime between 1743 and 1809 by Nicolai Abildgaard. My first thought? It's strangely comical seeing these guys sprinting, stones and all. It feels very dynamic, almost like a snapshot from a theatrical performance. What jumps out at you? Curator: Dynamic is spot-on! It's a whirlwind of motion caught in ink, isn't it? And comical is a valid response. The title is wonderfully descriptive. Notice how Abildgaard captures the strain and energy of the running figures with these simple lines. He's not going for anatomical perfection; instead, it's the feeling of movement he's after. You almost feel you’re witnessing some urgent, mythic escape – or perhaps a slightly absurd race? Does that reading strike you as strange? Editor: Absurd, yes, but intriguing. It's definitely not the heroic ideal I usually associate with classical figures. Curator: Precisely. It’s a refreshing break from that. It's as if Abildgaard is almost poking fun at those grand narratives. Now, where might the history painting tag play in all of this, and could the little face in profile be a subtle clue? What thoughts come up as you turn those ideas over? Editor: Perhaps he's challenging traditional representations of heroism. The face could be a commentary—like a little jab—about the supposed importance of those grand narratives. Maybe Abildgaard is highlighting the raw human effort behind history, the sweaty, unglorified part. Curator: Exactly! It's less about polished heroes and more about, well, blokes running with rocks. I came into this chat today convinced I understood these sprinters pretty well, but maybe I too was focusing too much on traditional ideas around history and its representation. You’ve provided me a useful reminder to embrace the slightly absurd nature of existence itself! Editor: I like that perspective! I'm glad to know I helped peel away at something new today!