"En Mor med sin epileptiske Søn" 1937

Christian Kongstad Petersen made this drawing, “A Mother with her Epileptic Son,” using graphite on paper. The location of the work in the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen encourages us to consider the role of art in the public sphere. The image depicts a woman standing with her hands clasped, alongside a man in a suit and hat. The title suggests that this is a mother and her adult son, and that the son has epilepsy. Epilepsy was highly stigmatized during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when this drawing was made. People with epilepsy were often ostracized, excluded from social life, and sometimes institutionalized. This drawing may be read as a compassionate portrayal of a family dealing with the social consequences of this condition. By presenting the drawing in a national art museum, the artist asks us to think about the public role of art. This prompts us to seek a deeper understanding of how such art can reflect and potentially reshape societal attitudes. Examining related historical and cultural records can significantly enrich our interpretation of the artwork.