Udsnit af ‘Collegium politicum’. 1865 - 1965

Curator: This drawing, titled “Udsnit af ‘Collegium politicum’,” attributed to Wilhelm Marstrand, appears to be from sometime between 1865 and 1965. It’s rendered in pen and ink on paper. My initial impression is that it's a spirited, dynamic snapshot—almost theatrical. Editor: The light brown hue of the paper and the flowing pen lines definitely create a sense of immediacy. What draws my eye is the concentration of bodies, their attire, within a domestic space… what can you tell me about its social context? Curator: Well, "Collegium politicum" was actually a series of paintings by Marstrand, depictions of everyday life infused with historical and political commentary. This sketch seems to be related to the final painting created in 1865 and now on display at Frederiksborg museum. You can see a very similar collection of gentlemen gathered together around a table with sheets of paper; in this preliminary drawing, Marstrand seems to explore how he can convey different power dynamics through gesture. The figure in the center, with the turban, seems to be reading from the pages of text while others react with disdain or intrigue. It captures a moment of intense discussion or debate, and that narrative unfolds even more completely within the full painted version of Collegium politicum. Editor: Exactly! That racialized figure—reading aloud in an environment of white privilege—opens questions about authority and who controls knowledge. I am intrigued by how his sketches allowed him to push those political dialogues—who has access to knowledge, who can claim political speech in that room? It brings into focus those layers of class, gender, race, all entangled in this pursuit of intellectual discussion in mid-19th-century Europe. Curator: Indeed, Marstrand was known for his narrative scenes, and it is his insightful sketches, more than his monumental paintings, which showcase this particular talent most acutely. What I find compelling here is how this intimate study reveals not just a scene, but a potential for the future, and our continued revisiting of social power today. Editor: I agree. Recognizing sketches like this not just as preliminary exercises, but as potent sites of negotiation for pressing social realities, that's where we find the lasting resonance. The sketch acts like a flashpoint— illuminating ongoing discussions about knowledge, power and how the intersectionality of race and class impact our society.