Illustration nr. 12 til "L`Amour et Psyché" 1862

Curator: Ah, here's "Illustration nr. 12 til 'L`Amour et Psyché'," a print made by Lorenz Frølich in 1862. It's currently held here at the SMK. A really fascinating example of Romantic-era engraving. Editor: My goodness, look at all that swirling detail. It feels almost claustrophobic, as if these mythological figures are trapped in amber or perhaps a memory. Do you sense the same feeling? Curator: Definitely! Frølich was known for imbuing his works with a deeply personal emotional landscape. This particular print is illustrative, but it's also layered with societal commentary. The tale of Cupid and Psyche was often interpreted as an allegory for the soul's journey towards enlightenment, and, given the period it was made in, also the female soul finding the proper, man-defined societal function. Editor: The framing vignette showing a suppliant Psyche before looming columns suggests a power dynamic immediately. Almost a theatrical presentation of the patriarchal structures prevalent at the time? The other characters positioned on and above clouds seems to show an ease or sense of status she clearly does not hold, is that perhaps also commentary on how such social rules create that distance? Curator: Exactly, Frølich masterfully uses these classical stories to reflect the constraints and aspirations of his own era. You see the characters Jupiter, Venus and Mercury interacting, so a power display and negotiation is definitely a key element, all observed from on high, above those in struggle. There’s this overwhelming sense of being watched, judged even. Editor: So true. The monochromatic rendering of the print and dense layering adds weight, don’t you think? Almost creating a historical burden these characters have to bear. Even Mercury seems troubled! Curator: And the very medium, print, allowed for broad circulation and democratization of art. So these socio-political concepts were being seen and discussed at all levels of society. I imagine there was intense debate in parlors all over Denmark regarding a woman's role in society. Editor: Which this artwork contributed to! That intersection of personal artistry and public discourse is really compelling. I’m glad to have looked at it a bit longer than a glance. It carries such depth for a medium as small as a print.