Forskellige ubestemmelige blyantsrids 1777 - 1778

“Forskellige ubestemmelige blyantsrids” or “Various Indistinct Pencil Sketches” was made by Jens Juel sometime between 1760 and 1800, using graphite on paper. Juel was a leading portrait painter in Denmark during the late 18th century. His work captured the likenesses of royalty and the wealthy merchant class. However, this sketch is more intimate and less defined. What do you see? Can you make out a person? Perhaps Juel was playing with identity, testing its limits beyond the rigid expectations of portraiture during his time. It feels like he’s searching, layering lines to find the essence of his subject. It reminds me of how we all carry multiple unfinished versions of ourselves. Juel offers us a glimpse into the process of becoming, suggesting that identity is not fixed but fluid.