Studie af en ung kvinde (Thora Købke) 1853 - 1857

Constantin Hansen painted this study of a young woman, Thora Købke, using oil on canvas. The artwork is characterised by its monochromatic palette and the subject’s striking pose, which together evoke a sense of quiet contemplation. Hansen’s formal arrangement is carefully constructed. The soft gradations of light and shadow model the figure, creating depth and volume, while her hands, raised in a gesture that obscures part of her face, draw attention to the act of seeing and being seen. This recalls structuralist ideas about binary oppositions – in this instance, visibility and concealment – to highlight how cultural meanings are created. The handling of paint is also significant; loose brushstrokes lend the piece an unfinished quality, suggesting that this is a study rather than a finished portrait. This emphasis on the process, on the materiality of painting itself, anticipates later modernist concerns, which would challenge traditional academic values. As such, Hansen’s work destabilizes conventional portraiture, inviting us to consider not just who is represented, but how.