Kvindehoved i 3/4 profil mod højre 1819

Martinus Rørbye made this delicate graphite drawing, *Head of a Woman in 3/4 Profile to the Right*, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Though seemingly a simple portrait, the artwork speaks volumes about the cultural values of its time. The woman's classical features and hairstyle, reminiscent of ancient Greek or Roman aesthetics, reflect the Neoclassical ideals that were prevalent in European art and society during the 1800s. Neoclassicism was closely linked to the political and social institutions of Europe, drawing on the art of antiquity to suggest timeless values of order, reason, and citizenship. It was a visual language promoted by art academies and state-sponsored exhibitions. To understand the drawing more fully, we would need to delve into the archives of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, where Rørbye studied. There, we could examine the curriculum and teaching methods that shaped his artistic vision. Ultimately, the meaning of this artwork lies not only in its aesthetic qualities but also in its connection to the social and institutional context of its time.