Frederik IV 1723 - 1747

Art Historian: Okay, let’s begin. Editor: So, this is a painting of Frederik IV by Hinrich Jacob Pohle, dated sometime between 1723 and 1747. It looks like he's wearing armor with a fur stole over it, and it seems to be oil on some sort of canvas or panel. I’m immediately struck by how the armor seems so dominant. How do you interpret this work? Art Historian: Dominance indeed, let's consider how it was fabricated and for what reasons. We can see the production of the image itself as tied to specific socioeconomic contexts of art and artisanship, here, focusing on the manufacturing processes reveals insights beyond just aesthetic appreciation. Consider the labor involved in creating not only the painting but also the armor, and even the pigments themselves! The materials, whether the costly blues or rich sables, are not arbitrary; these items demonstrate political prowess that impacts every part of Frederik IV. Editor: I see what you mean; the image presents clear links to industry! So how does the armor challenge conventional notions of high art versus craft? Art Historian: Well, consider what these artisans of both sword and brush contributed culturally and economically at the time! Pohle made it to immortalize the person wearing such materials; his social status increased in comparison to that of even armorer's as art became regarded separately from armor production! Can art become “craft”, can such crafted items be perceived as high art based on those values too? Editor: Interesting! So by analyzing the materiality and creation, we see an insight into the art world, labor, and hierarchy of 18th century Denmark, plus, such items may become recontextualized across multiple values and uses over centuries as well! Art Historian: Exactly, it shifts our appreciation of visual presentation away and brings attention to the processes that underly the art piece entirely; hopefully that can give one something more worth analyzing in person during your next viewing here at Statens Museum for Kunst. Editor: Thanks, I'll keep an eye out.