Tandlæge J.J. Jansen 1865

This marble bust of Tandlæge J.J. Jansen was crafted by H.W. Bissen and now resides at the SMK. Bissen, a prominent sculptor, lived in a time when portraiture served as a powerful tool for shaping public identity and commemorating status. In making this sculpture, Bissen was working within the traditions of neoclassical sculpture which sought to express individuality through a focus on realism. Notice the detail in Jansen's hair and the lines around his eyes; Bissen captures not just likeness, but also the essence of a man who occupied a specific place in 19th-century Danish society. As a dentist, Jansen belonged to a rising professional class, and this bust asserts his importance within that social framework. While ostensibly an objective likeness, the sculpture subtly elevates Jansen, linking him to the classical ideals of beauty and intellect. It invites us to consider how such representations uphold certain societal values, defining who is deemed worthy of remembrance.