"Peder Mikkelsen, Mestertyven. 1800" 1758 - 1816

Curator: Georg Fahrenholtz's "Peder Mikkelsen, Mestertyven. 1800" is a striking print housed here at the SMK, dating to the late 18th or early 19th century. An engraving, etching hybrid depicting, shall we say, an entrepreneur hard at work? Editor: My first impression? Utter fascination. There's this wonderful air of illicit activity combined with such domestic normality. The stark monochrome etching gives it a slightly grim, humorous tension. Curator: Indeed! It is a fascinating work and a product of its time. Fahrenholtz uses line to craft this rather domestic yet theatrical scene. Looking closely, you can almost hear the quiet rustle as Peder, "The Master Thief" it translates to, attempts his sleight of hand. I am more than certain of what’s written on the letter he has just altered. I can smell the burning fumes and the sense of absolute urgency that fills the room. Editor: The materiality of the piece speaks to so much more than just aesthetics. The tools of etching and engraving—the plates, the acids—they reflect a period of expanding industry and craftsmanship. Even the paper itself, its availability and cost, dictated who could participate in making and consuming art like this. The whole composition feels balanced; not just artistically but from the very nature of all involved’s hard labour. Curator: Right you are! And thinking about distribution of the work; prints, as opposed to painting or sculpture were very popular then! Making commentary on events as history painting while using the everyday in what we may even call genre painting; using accessibility to critique social order… I feel like I have walked right into an incredibly modern, playful and thought provoking narrative. It truly is an act of magic when you think about it. Editor: And yet, that magic relies so heavily on the tangible. The labor of the artist, the properties of the materials...they ground the artwork in a specific moment, a specific set of conditions. The level of labour needed in creating all elements of this print! From sourcing paper, smelting tools, designing, engraving… just wow. Curator: That really highlights how interconnected art and everyday life have always been; this artwork is such a small key for such a huge door, so small, I can pop it right into my pocket. Editor: And the metal of that key was born of the Earth itself, don't forget!