Siddende herre med paryk og ordensbånd 1746 - 1828

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to this arresting sketch, “Siddende herre med paryk og ordensbånd,” or "Seated Gentleman with Wig and Order Ribbon," attributed to C.A. Lorentzen, created sometime between 1746 and 1828. Editor: The drawing has a haunting fragility. I am struck by its almost ethereal quality. The subject, though rendered with crisp lines, seems somehow remote and melancholy, almost weighed down. Curator: Indeed. It is important to remember the context in which Lorentzen worked, though. This period witnessed an obsession with decorum and outward appearances, of course. The sitter's elaborate wig and prominent sash immediately broadcast his status. But what could a simple drawing convey about the man himself beyond those material markers? Editor: Exactly! Is it merely a detached depiction, celebrating the patriarchy, or something more probing? His almost sunken eyes and the faint droop of his shoulders hint at a more intricate emotional life concealed behind societal constraints. We could think of it as an early attempt to portray toxic masculinity within its political period, while showing the deep sadness involved. Curator: Precisely, the act of portraiture became enmeshed with constructing and cementing power dynamics within rapidly shifting social structures. Drawings such as this would circulate in specific cultural circles. Editor: Yes, consider the tension inherent in his very posture. He appears posed, but there's a weariness to his pose, right? I can see a commentary here regarding gender expectations of being stoic, powerful, and yet still aesthetically appealing. And I can see that there is room for new narratives regarding the sitter. Curator: A good reminder that even seemingly straightforward representations participate in, and sometimes even subvert, the prevailing ideological currents of their era. And so much conveyed with the simple use of pencil on paper. Editor: An unfinished drawing is quite interesting when looking at class, gender, and politics of the day, actually! We are forced to speculate on its intentions. I am happy to be on the edge of these kinds of things, wondering just what Lorentzen felt about this particular sitter. I think the question "what might have been" hangs in the air like perfume.