Studie af Arendse Hulegaard, siddende, vendt mod venstre 1810 - 1873

Wilhelm Marstrand sketched "Studie af Arendse Hulegaard, siddende, vendt mod venstre" using pen and brown ink. Marstrand was a central figure in the Danish Golden Age, a period marked by burgeoning national identity and cultural expression. Here, we see a rendering of a young woman, Arendse Hulegaard, her gaze averted as if lost in thought, set against a loosely sketched backdrop. What does it mean to capture the likeness of a person? Marstrand, working within the conventions of his time, gives us Arendse through the lens of idealized beauty. Yet, the sketch also offers a glimpse into the dynamics of portraiture, raising questions about how gender and social status play into representation. Is this an authentic depiction of Arendse, or a performance of femininity molded by societal expectations? Consider, too, the gaze. Arendse looks away, inviting us to ponder her inner world, while subtly reminding us of the power dynamics inherent in the act of looking, in the very act of seeing and being seen.