Selvportræt 1898

Curator: This is P.S. Krøyer’s self-portrait from 1898, held at the SMK, Statens Museum for Kunst. It’s rendered as an etching. Editor: It has this wonderfully melancholic feel. The muted tones and those etched lines, they give his gaze such a pensive quality. Almost like he's peering out from behind a veil of his own making. Curator: Yes, etching lends itself to that atmosphere. You know, Krøyer was deeply embedded in the artistic circles of his time. This work offers us an interesting peek into the artistic self-fashioning that was taking place then. Self-portraits, after all, are carefully constructed narratives. Editor: Indeed. Notice the cap – a universal symbol of the artist at work, dating back centuries. It grounds him, makes him accessible, but the swirling, almost chaotic lines surrounding him suggest the inner turmoil, the emotional cost of creation. Curator: That turbulence is certainly evident, especially considering the personal struggles Krøyer was enduring around this time, battling mental health issues. These are struggles we see reflected more broadly in the cultural currents of the era, influencing the subjectivities of many artists in the late 19th Century. Editor: And the eyes themselves – shadowed, yes, but also intensely knowing. Like he is dissecting himself even as we observe him. There is that direct address of the viewer, inviting an emotional connection. A potent display, even through a medium as delicate as etching. Curator: I agree, there’s a fragility here that underscores its power, and knowing about the institutional and societal factors surrounding his art contextualizes this work more wholly. Editor: Absolutely. He is forever immortalized here, etched both literally and figuratively in history's annals. Curator: Exactly, providing valuable social context with lasting impression. Editor: It invites the observer to gaze on this piece while introspecting themselves.