En kavalerist 1745

Curator: Here we have "En kavalerist", or "A Cavalryman," an engraving created around 1745 by Johanna Fosie, residing here at the SMK. I must admit, even in the grainy, inky lines of the print, this work exudes such… gravity. It captures a real stillness. What's your first take? Editor: Well, immediately, I'm drawn to the line work—so meticulous, especially when you consider it's an engraving. Look at the saddle, how utilitarian, every strap precisely rendered, yet placed atop the landscape. It’s function elevated by skill, literally. Curator: I find the soldier's face, despite being small, is captivating. There's a weight in his gaze that speaks of something more than just military bearing. He seems… thoughtful. What narratives do you think the print is playing with? Genre painting? Historical portraiture? It does both! Editor: And consider the materials again. This wasn’t painting for wealthy patrons, necessarily. Prints like this were often reproduced and disseminated much more widely. It becomes accessible in a way painting was not, a form of almost democratic portraiture that relies heavily on its craft. Who was she intending to reach, and where might you hang a print like this? Curator: The print medium absolutely lends itself to this idea. To have his image accessible, reproduced, consumed... It feels, at its heart, intensely human. I can just picture this cavalryman, perhaps on leave, feeling the earth beneath him. Editor: He’s holding his sword rather lightly for someone about to engage in a fight—maybe it’s more about portraying an idealized image, perhaps subtly encouraging recruitment. I also note the absence of grand battles or other figures, focusing our eye instead on him. What are the engraver's own motivations, producing art at this scale and for these particular clients? Curator: It definitely feels charged. There's that stillness again, hinting at so much under the surface. The composition with his posture in the middle creates a feeling that he may have to burst into motion. Editor: It’s a fascinating blend of skill, accessibility and possible political utility, wouldn't you say? That’s why Fosie's piece is important to me. Curator: Indeed, the artist has immortalized him and invited the audience into an unspoken world of contemplation. Editor: Craft as communication, challenging elite definitions. That is very compelling to think about today!