Jule- og nytårskort 1911

Curator: Before us, we have "Jule- og nytårskort", a print etching completed by Axel Hou in 1911. Editor: It's surprisingly intimate for a printed work. The subdued tones lend it a kind of melancholy that, honestly, undermines any festive cheer I might expect from the title. Curator: Observe the line work closely; Hou masterfully uses etching to delineate forms and evoke depth. The texture, a direct result of the intaglio process, contributes a tactile quality despite the print’s surface being smooth to the touch. Note, in particular, how the density of lines modulates to create a chiaroscuro effect. Editor: Interesting. So the figures are two children carefully cradling dolls, set indoors. But the composition is quite self-contained, isn't it? The framing feels almost claustrophobic. This was made as a Christmas and New Year's card—given the rather dark mood, was there a particular cultural anxiety surrounding childhood or domesticity at the time? Curator: Without seeing supporting documents, that's speculation, of course. But the spatial compression certainly focuses our attention on the immediate relationship between children and object. Consider how the carefully worked lines define the textures of clothing, juxtaposed against the softer modeling of the dolls themselves. A commentary on materiality perhaps? The artificial, idealized form of a doll set against the rough reality of youthful garments. Editor: Maybe. It could also highlight class distinctions of the time and how expectations are projected upon the innocent, too. I find the choice of words for the card telling; ‘Glædelig Jul! Godt Nytaar!’ The work seems far removed from that. Curator: Such socio-political conditions could also create artistic interpretation and that’s okay. It speaks to how, in viewing, that semiotic meaning changes through culture over time. Editor: Well, despite its disquieting mood, this small print manages to do what good art should—give a lot to reflect upon! Curator: Precisely! Its form and details make way for engaging insights and conversation to come.