Allegori på bygningskunsten 1760

Jens Juel created this allegory of architecture around 1760 using pen and grey ink and grey wash. The drawing presents a figure draped in classical robes, dominating the composition. Observe how Juel uses delicate shading to give form and weight to the figure and her garments. This creates a sense of three-dimensionality on the two-dimensional surface. The structure is a play on the concept of allegory. The architectural tools and miniature construction scene in the background serve as signs pointing to architecture. But the figure herself destabilizes a simple reading. Her somber expression and the almost mournful drape of her robes introduce an emotional complexity, defying a purely celebratory interpretation of architecture. The drawing prompts us to reflect on the cultural codes embedded in classical representation and how they can be subverted or complicated through subtle visual cues, leaving us questioning the relationship between form, representation, and meaning.