General Max Müller 1865

H.W. Bissen created this 68.3 cm marble bust of General Max Müller, located here at the SMK. The cool, smooth marble gives a classical austerity, offset by the dynamism of the subject's hair and beard, rendered with textural detail. Bissen contrasts these fluid forms with the bust’s solid, geometric base. This interplay between naturalistic representation and formal structure is a key element. The artist uses traditional materials to embody contemporary ideas about the individual and the state. The General's assured gaze and composed features project authority, softened by a hint of naturalism in the slightly asymmetrical carving. Bissen has captured not just a likeness but a sense of his subject's character and place in the world. The sculpture offers viewers a chance to ponder how classical forms can be re-purposed to convey a sense of modern identity and purpose.