Düres selvportræt 1816 - 1878

Curator: Here we have a fascinating self-portrait by Thorald Læssøe, aptly titled "Dürers selvportræt" or "Dürer's Self-Portrait," dating back to the period between 1816 and 1878. Editor: Immediately striking. There's such starkness. It is a print but rendered with remarkable textural complexity. I see a tightly controlled composition in what must be a meticulously worked metal plate. Curator: Indeed. It's located here at the SMK, Statens Museum for Kunst. And, historically, Læssøe’s works, including this one, participated in a broader Romantic movement interest in representing the individual genius, here reflected through an interesting copy of a previous genius. The social status imbued to artwork authorship comes to the fore. Editor: Precisely. Consider also the physical act required to bring it into being, using tools on a metal matrix to give birth to multiples— democratizing access while ironically enshrining the "artist as genius." Curator: Absolutely. This connects directly with the development of print culture and its accessibility, yet always shadowed by the social standing of painting. Prints had this double bind, serving both a populist purpose and, for certain artists, serving the market ambitions of art collecting among the burgeoning bourgeoisie. Editor: The visual weightiness of this image speaks of the labor intensity necessary. It is easy to reproduce, yes, but demands extreme skills. I’m fascinated by its manifestation of an almost tactile quality—despite its printed, reproducible form. The intense hatching... Læssøe becomes a craftsman of dissemination. Curator: It brings the dialogue on who "owns" the artwork to bear, since it reflects both the identity of Dürer through imitation, and of Læssøe via material creation and authorship of a material thing. Editor: Definitely. These intricate choices remind us that printmaking has been crucial for wider participation in art and it deserves a higher standing in how we assess creative work. Curator: A really good note on which to conclude! Editor: Indeed. Food for thought regarding technique and status!