Kongelig jæger 1807

Curator: Here we have Johannes Senn's "Kongelig jæger," or "Royal Hunter," made in 1807, presently held at the SMK, the Statens Museum for Kunst. Senn worked primarily with watercolor and drawings and was associated with Neoclassicism and Academic Art. Editor: My goodness, the color palette is delicate, almost pastel. It gives a rather…un-military feel to what I presume is a soldier, of sorts. There’s something whimsical about his stance, like a porcelain figurine ready to topple. Curator: Indeed. Despite its subject matter, this work carries that aesthetic charm, doesn't it? It's vital to consider the context of court portraiture and the commissioning of such images, where the presentation of authority often intertwines with the desire for refined elegance, to reflect dynastic stability. Editor: Elegance, yes, though perhaps bordering on caricature? Look at the overly large hat and the meticulously rendered details on the sash. He's almost doll-like, trapped in elaborate costuming. Are we sure he's not a theatre actor in the 19th century, posturing about on stage? Curator: (Laughing softly) A compelling thought. However, such representations also served political ends. Clothing, insignia, and accoutrements communicated the sitter's status within a rigid hierarchy. The watercolor medium allowed for detail, yet avoided the gravitas and pomp of oil paintings which helped to bring portraiture to the burgeoning middle classes of Europe. Editor: I suppose there's something disarming in that, stripping away the heavy armor for pastel finery. A human being, however small, asserting personhood amidst political messaging. He seems a rather sad lonely soul. Curator: It offers a lens into the societal expectations placed on individuals during this epoch. Senn navigates these nuances adeptly. We may smile, yet he demands our consideration of the values underpinning authority. Editor: It is definitely thought-provoking. Thank you. It's amazing how much narrative exists inside a single pose. Curator: Absolutely. It goes far in showing how art opens up conversation, about identity, about power, about being human in history.