Gammel hvidskægget mand 1726 - 1748

Editor: This small oil painting, "Gammel hvidskægget mand" by David Gardelle, dating from 1726 to 1748, features an old, white-bearded man. It’s currently hanging in the SMK. What stands out to me is the meticulous rendering of the beard. What aspects of this work draw your attention? Curator: Considering this work through a materialist lens, I'm immediately struck by the choices of oil paint itself. Think about the labour involved, from the grinding of pigments to the application of layers to build up this likeness. These materials were commodities, connected to global trade routes and specific socio-economic systems. The way the oil allows for this subtle gradations of light and shadow to depict the textures of the skin and hair, that in itself reflects access to particular levels of quality and training for Gardelle. Editor: So, the availability and quality of the materials used provide insight into the artist's access and privilege? Curator: Precisely. Also, think about the commissioning context. A portrait like this wasn't just about representing an individual. It involved negotiations of power, social status, and even the self-construction of identity within a society where portraiture played a specific role in solidifying hierarchies. How does understanding the material processes inform how we look at art today? Editor: It gives me a new way to think about art; as not just a product, but a nexus of labor, materials, and social context, which encourages me to think about art's role in reinforcing—or even subverting—the power structures of its time. Curator: It invites critical thinking, shifting focus from the finished piece to all its production and reception histories.