Museumsmand og arkæolog Christian Jürgensen Thomsen 1858

Here we see a bust of Christian Jürgensen Thomsen by H.W. Bissen at Statens Museum for Kunst. While the date of creation is unknown, both men lived through a period of intense national identity formation in Denmark following the Napoleonic Wars. Thomsen was a pioneering figure in archaeology, establishing the three-age system. Bissen, a leading sculptor, often depicted figures from mythology and contemporary society. How might the bust format, traditionally reserved for royalty and the elite, elevate Thomsen’s status in a changing society? Consider the role of museums and archaeology in constructing national narratives. In what ways might the bust serve as a symbol of Danish identity, linking past and present through the figure of the archaeologist? Can we view this work as an artifact which reflects a society grappling with its place in the world?