Maler William Hammer 1852

Jacob Kornerup made this print of Maler William Hammer using etching, a printmaking technique, sometime in the mid-19th century. As a portrait of a fellow artist, this work allows us to consider the social networks of painters and other cultural producers in Denmark at the time. We see Hammer depicted with a strong gaze and a distinctive hat, projecting an image of a confident, independent artist. Prints like this one could be reproduced and distributed widely, helping to build an artist's reputation. The institutions of art, such as the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, played a crucial role in shaping artistic careers. By depicting his fellow artist, Kornerup participates in the process of constructing artistic fame and cementing Hammer’s place in the cultural landscape. To understand the full story, one might consult exhibition reviews, letters between artists, and records from the Academy. Only by exploring these kinds of sources can we fully understand the social conditions that shaped artistic production in 19th-century Denmark.