Cathrine Jensen, née Lorenzen, the Artist's Wife 1845

This is a portrait of Cathrine Jensen, née Lorenzen, the artist's wife, painted by C.A. Jensen. Oil on canvas was the go-to medium for depicting the Danish bourgeoisie in the 1800s. But it's not just about the paint. Look closely at the details of Cathrine's clothing, which are rendered with care, from the delicate lace trim of her bonnet to the soft folds of her shawl. Notice how the texture and weight of these fabrics are conveyed through subtle variations in brushstroke and tone. The painting then becomes more than just an image; it is a material record of the world that Cathrine inhabited. Her garments, and the time and labor that went into producing them, reflect the social and economic realities of her time. It's a reminder that even the most seemingly straightforward portraits are in fact complex objects, embedded in a web of materials, making, and meaning.