Årets tider. Symboliseret ved fire menneskefigurer 1794

Bertel Thorvaldsen’s “The Seasons,” presents four figures symbolizing Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, sculpted in plaster. Plaster is a humble material, but its capacity to mimic stone allowed Thorvaldsen to achieve the Neoclassical aesthetic he favored. The process involved creating a clay model, then a plaster mold, into which the final plaster cast was poured. This method allowed for multiples, democratizing access to art. The smooth, pale surface of the plaster accentuates the idealized forms of the figures, while the shallow relief emphasizes line and contour. The handwork involved, from modeling the clay to meticulously refining the plaster, highlights the contrast between the handmade object and the mass production enabled by the casting process. By considering the material and the means of production, we can understand how Thorvaldsen navigated the changing art world of the 19th century.