Self-Portrait 1836

C.A. Jensen painted this self-portrait in oil on canvas sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Jensen was a leading portrait painter in Denmark during the so-called Golden Age. But what does it mean to fashion oneself as an artist at that time? We see Jensen posed with a characteristic Romantic dishevelment, his gaze direct, and a ring prominently displayed, suggesting the status of the artist as an individual of refined sensibility. Denmark was undergoing significant social and political change during Jensen's lifetime, including the end of the absolute monarchy, and the rise of a new middle class. The institutions of art, like the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, played a role in shaping artistic identity during this time. By studying exhibition records, personal letters, and other historical documents, we can better understand how artists like Jensen saw themselves and their place in a rapidly changing society.