Udkast til tympanonrelief på Københavns Rådhus 1895

Editor: Here we have Agnes Slott-Møller’s 1895 pencil drawing, "Udkast til tympanonrelief på Københavns Rådhus"—a preliminary sketch for a tympanum relief at Copenhagen City Hall. The medieval style, coupled with the somewhat crude drawing strokes, make me feel like I am looking at something ancient. What feeling do you get from the piece? Curator: Ah, yes. The beauty of a preliminary sketch, isn't it? You're catching a thought as it takes form. What strikes me is the intention. This drawing, still so raw, breathes with a profound reverence for history, attempting to echo, I believe, the grandeur and gravity of the past in the architecture of the present. Editor: I definitely see what you mean. Is it referencing a specific historical moment? Curator: Perhaps more a sentiment than a specific moment. Think of the grand narratives often depicted in medieval cathedrals, stories of governance, of collective identity carved in stone for the ages. Don't you feel that echoing here, an attempt to embed civic pride into the very structure of the building? Editor: Absolutely! I now notice the many small figures at the bottom; perhaps this section represents the population it hopes to govern and give back to. How wonderfully quaint! I do have to wonder, though—did Slott-Møller fully pull this vision off in the final work? Curator: An intriguing question! It pushes me to consider the limitations and opportunities presented when transitioning from initial dream to realized form. What do you think gets lost, and what, perhaps, is gained in translation? Editor: That's really neat to consider; it adds to the thought process and emotion involved! Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. And thank you for seeing it with fresh eyes. It’s a delightful thing, rediscovering a familiar work through the wonder of another.