Siddende ældre italienerinde 1838 - 1840

Editor: We’re looking at “Siddende Ældre Italianerinde,” or “Seated Elderly Italian Woman,” a drawing made between 1838 and 1840 by Wilhelm Marstrand, held at the SMK. The delicate lines of the drawing create such a peaceful, almost contemplative mood. What jumps out at you when you see this work? Curator: Funny you say that, I find myself oddly drawn into her gaze, even though it's a profile. There’s a sense of quiet dignity in her posture, wouldn’t you agree? And you have to love how Marstrand, with just a few pencil strokes, captures the weight and drape of her clothing. Did he do preliminary drawing from life you wonder, to inform later larger narrative painting, and which one? Maybe none. I’m just thinking out loud. Editor: Yes, the way the fabric folds is quite beautiful! I'm also intrigued by the double image around her head. Curator: Ah, the ghost image! My guess? He wasn't quite settled on the angle of her head or the details of her cap. Artists often make those adjustments right on the page – it’s like a little window into their process, isn’t it? Seeing these pentimenti...makes you feel a kind of artist kindredness. What do you imagine she's thinking? Editor: Maybe she is just relaxing for a moment? This peek into Marstrand’s process gives me a whole new appreciation for the work that goes into a finished piece! Curator: Absolutely, the drawing reveals the art that makes art. So much we don’t always appreciate about that process.