To unge piger fra ryggen 1810 - 1848

Editor: So, here we have "Two Young Girls from the Back," a pencil drawing by Christen Købke, dating from the early to mid-19th century. I find the sketchiness very intriguing and immediate. The subjects almost seem caught in a private moment. How do you interpret this work, considering its historical context? Curator: It's a lovely sketch, isn’t it? As a historian, what strikes me is how it presents a deliberately "unmonumental" view of women. Romanticism was burgeoning at the time. Think about how academic art traditionally portrays women, often posed or allegorical. Købke gives us something quite different. He turns his back on that whole tradition, quite literally, doesn’t he? How might its presence in the SMK change its perception and value for the public? Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't considered it in terms of that rejection of tradition. The setting isn’t grand, their clothes, while detailed, appear everyday. This is, perhaps, Romanticism focused on the mundane, accessible… but in a public museum setting. Curator: Exactly. He’s observing life, almost reportage-like, using the tools he has available. That is a perspective shaped by its era, yet challenging the dominant art of the establishment. It gives power to smaller stories and raises interesting questions about representation in Danish art. It becomes more about capturing authentic humanity in plain view than idolizing something unreachable, presented on the wall of the SMK. Do you see this affecting today’s understanding of this artist and time period? Editor: I definitely see your point now. Viewing the sketch as a reflection of changing societal values and artistic styles, particularly in a museum context, adds another layer to my understanding of its impact and value. Curator: It does. This dialogue helps us to recognize this seemingly small sketch to serve as evidence of larger artistic and societal shifts. It's all connected. Editor: I’ll remember that, thank you.