Maleren Jørgen Roed 1859

H.W. Bissen created this plaster bust of the painter Jørgen Roed. This work offers us a glimpse into the artistic and cultural circles of 19th-century Denmark. Consider what it meant to immortalize an artist like this. Busts were typically reserved for nobility, leaders, and the exceptionally wealthy. This work elevates Roed, suggesting his importance to Danish culture. But this importance is highly gendered and classed: both Bissen and Roed were men working within a patriarchal structure. The work is a kind of celebration of their masculinity through a formal display of artistic achievement. The bust also offers insight into the concept of artistic identity during this time. Roed is depicted with a serious demeanor, reflecting the Romantic era's emphasis on individuality and emotion. Bissen's decision to capture Roed's likeness serves as a cultural and historical marker of how artists were perceived and valued in their society. The bust invites us to reflect on who gets remembered and how.