Skitser: F.o.: Den moderne fortolker. F.n.: Stående og liggende kvinde 1860

Lorenz Frølich made this drawing, “Skitser,” whose title translates to “Sketches,” in Denmark, during the 19th century. It’s a sketch of a modern interpreter with standing and reclining women. The image invites us to reflect on the public role of art at a time when art institutions were becoming more important. As Denmark navigated its cultural identity amid European influences, artists like Frølich played a crucial role in defining and shaping its artistic norms. The figures, with their classical drapery, suggest a connection to ancient Greece, a key source of artistic inspiration for the European art academy. We can understand this work better by considering the historical context of Danish art, the institutional developments of the time, and consulting resources on Frølich’s life and career. This reminds us that art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.