Burmeister and Wain Iron Foundry 1885

Editor: Here we have Peder Severin Krøyer’s “Burmeister and Wain Iron Foundry,” painted in 1885. The textures in oil paint almost feel heavy, mirroring the weighty subject matter. The atmosphere feels so charged; you can almost smell the hot metal! What captures your eye most about this work? Curator: You know, it's the glow that pulls me in – that inner, primal light. Krøyer hasn’t just depicted a foundry, has he? It’s almost as if he has captured some modern version of Hephaestus’s forge, the birth of something elemental. Don't you find a certain romance amidst the industrial scene, as if technology and humanity are somehow entangled? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way! It is both grimy and romantic, a pretty strange combination! Almost like...an industrial fairytale. But how would one know that it's specifically Burmeister and Wain's Foundry just by looking at the image? Curator: Ah, that's the beauty of knowing the context, isn’t it? It’s not *just* a foundry; it is *this* foundry. It’s a snapshot of a burgeoning industrial powerhouse in Denmark, shaping not only metal but also the country's future. And, the artist actually captures the very real, sweaty and risky labour conditions. Do you get that sense? Editor: Absolutely. It's less about idealizing industry, and more about showing it as it was. Curator: Exactly! We often separate industry from art but I think it’s incredibly valuable that he does both simultaneously. What's amazing is how he transforms that everyday scene into something captivating, a little hellish and absolutely gorgeous at the same time. Editor: Well, now I definitely see this grimy landscape in a completely different light! It is more than just a factory. Curator: Indeed. Krøyer's ability to find the extraordinary in the ordinary truly sets him apart!