Chr. 4. Lader Bødlen Tage Ordenskæden Og Sværdet Fra Falskneren Christopher Rosenkrantz 1861

Wilhelm Marstrand created this watercolor wash drawing, depicting the 17th-century punishment of a counterfeiter, at an unknown date. The artist’s choice of watercolor wash, rather than oils, might be a commentary in itself. Watercolor is often seen as preparatory, or somehow less serious than oils, and perhaps Marstrand is suggesting a parallel between the deceptive act of counterfeiting and the deceptive possibilities of the medium. The application of the watercolor creates soft, flowing shapes, and a delicate, almost ethereal quality, which contrasts starkly with the serious and severe moment it depicts, where the tools of status, the chain and sword, are taken from the forger, Rosenkrantz. This adds another layer of intrigue to the scene. The artist uses the watercolor wash to capture the drama and emotions of the courtroom, from the king on his throne to the accused. The drawing reminds us of the importance of material, process, and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork, and challenges the traditional distinction between fine art and craft.