Papirfabrikant Christian Drewsen 1866

Curator: I am immediately struck by the air of gravitas, of unwavering authority, emanating from this bust. Editor: Indeed. We're looking at "Papirfabrikant Christian Drewsen," a marble sculpture created in 1866 by H.W. Bissen, currently residing at the SMK in Copenhagen. It captures the likeness of a paper manufacturer. Curator: Marble… such a cold material, yet there’s something remarkably lifelike in the details, isn’t there? The lines etched around his eyes, the way the light catches his brow – almost makes him look weary, burdened by the weight of…paper empire, perhaps? Editor: Bissen was known for his classical-realist style. During this period, depicting prominent figures in marble busts was a common way for the bourgeoisie to assert their status. Consider how the classical style lends him an air of timeless respectability. Curator: He does appear as though he belongs amongst Roman emperors, doesn't he? Yet there’s something slightly…discomfiting about it. Maybe the lack of genuine warmth, the slight stiffness, despite all the detailed naturalism? Like an actor in a role. I find it fascinating, unsettling and almost a little sad. Editor: That disquiet might stem from the evolving role of portraiture itself. Photography was rising during this time, and sculpture, traditionally used for commemoration and societal affirmation, needed to navigate its purpose. The choice of marble emphasizes permanence, an attempt to resist the ephemeral nature of photography. Curator: A statement of lasting legacy, then. Though isn’t there something a bit…vain in commissioning your likeness in eternal marble? It hints at that very human desire to transcend time, to etch ourselves into the very fabric of history. It makes me wonder, how did *he* really feel about his factory, his life, his place in the grand tapestry? Was it fulfilling, or just...paperwork? Editor: Ultimately, this sculpture encapsulates 19th-century aspirations: a celebration of industry, an adherence to classical ideals, and the persistent human pursuit of immortality— or, at the very least, lasting recognition. Curator: A paper magnate frozen in marble... there's poetry there, somewhere. Makes you want to know the man, the dreams behind that stare.