Vignet til "Afskeden" 1878

Editor: This is “Vignet til 'Afskeden'”, or Vignette for 'The Farewell', made in 1878 by Waldemar Bøhme. It's an engraving, a small print. It’s incredibly delicate... three cherubic figures and I am struck by how one seems to be weeping or hiding from the other two in an embrace. What catches your eye when you look at this? Curator: You know, that weeping figure immediately reminds me of childhood games – the one left out, suddenly on the periphery. But then you consider the title, and the embrace, perhaps, suggests something deeper, a parting, a sorrowful leave-taking. The beauty of such a small vignette is how it packs an emotional punch with so little. I see the figures almost like actors on a tiny stage. Do you think the artist aimed for a purely sentimental portrayal, or is there something more complicated at play? Editor: I had taken it as simply sentimental. You have a point. Their poses are a bit theatrical. Is the weeping figure grief personified, watching love depart? I notice also the textures - that cape seems far more weighty than you'd expect. Curator: Precisely! Bøhme’s masterful use of line, especially in rendering the drapery, elevates this beyond mere sentiment. Look how the hatching suggests form and depth. This cape shelters and conceals simultaneously. Perhaps there's a protection being offered alongside this "farewell"? Editor: I'm seeing new depth now. Initially I felt almost detached, but you’ve humanized the scene. It is more than sentiment, I think you're right - it feels quite knowing now, if small, also very bittersweet and affecting. Curator: And isn't that the marvel of art? The capacity to reveal hidden layers of feeling, a narrative hinted at, not shouted. Bøhme’s quiet drama stays with you long after you’ve moved on. Editor: Exactly, there's far more here to unpack than I initially considered. I won't look at small engravings in the same way. Thank you for bringing so much to light!