Kronprins Frederik (VI) 1784

Editor: Here we have "Kronprins Frederik (VI)," an engraving from 1784 by J.F. Clemens, currently at the Statens Museum for Kunst. It’s quite formal, but I’m struck by how delicate the lines are in this print. What stands out to you about this work? Curator: For me, it's the process itself. Consider the labour involved in creating this engraving – the precise cuts into the metal plate, each one a deliberate act of reproduction and dissemination of royal power. The print wasn't about singular artistic genius, but about controlled replication. Think about the political power inherently contained in the ability to mass-produce an image of the crown prince and put it into circulation! Editor: That’s interesting; I was thinking about it just in terms of aesthetics. Curator: Exactly! We need to ask who the intended audience was for such prints and what kind of impact they had. Consider also the economics: who profited from the making and selling of this kind of reproducible art? It's also telling that Clemens made a print and not a painting; consider the democratising force that printmaking could represent at the time. What do you make of that distinction, its social dimension? Editor: I hadn't thought about it in that way before. So, it's not just about the prince’s portrait, but about how the image functions as a commodity and communicates power? Curator: Precisely. We examine the artistic tools employed and how labor generates meaning, in turn questioning the notion of ‘high art.’ Editor: That's given me a completely different perspective. I will think twice before reducing artworks to aesthetics and individual creative expression. Curator: That’s the aim: to view artworks through the lens of labor, materiality, and their societal role!