Stående og siddende kvindelig model 1907

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this intriguing pencil sketch by Harald Giersing, created in 1907, titled "Standing and Seated Female Model". It's part of the collection at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. Editor: It strikes me as remarkably raw. The visible pencil strokes, the tentative lines—it feels almost like a fleeting impression captured on paper. Not at all idealized. Curator: Exactly. Giersing was navigating the artistic currents of his time. While academically trained, he started exploring beyond its boundaries, influenced by movements on the continent. The very act of sketching nudes was both an exercise and a commentary, part of artistic training yet reflective of societal views on the body. Editor: The immediacy of the pencil really speaks to me. You can almost feel Giersing experimenting, wrestling with form and proportion. Look at the standing figure, the repetition of lines around her torso gives the idea of motion. What kind of paper do you think he would have used for something like this? It almost seems too precious for a sketch. Curator: It is quite possible he used commercially available drawing paper or even a newsprint-type paper for initial studies, given the number of drawings and studies artists of the time produced. Materials speak to an artist’s access, studio practice and even status within the art world and academy. These early explorations challenged accepted academic standards that were still in place in many institutions and circles. Editor: Challenging norms by emphasizing the making process... I wonder if Giersing ever intended this just as a study, or if he felt like this was a complete artwork in and of itself? There is this amazing feeling of the model being truly observed. Curator: Well, art's function changes over time. A study then could be appreciated as a finished piece now. Consider the shift in the value we place on process, and how this drawing offers insights into Giersing’s journey as he moved toward his mature style and away from the confines of Academic convention. Editor: This has made me consider what is considered 'finished' versus 'process' or study... Curator: Indeed, and how societal and institutional shifts shape our view of the artwork itself.