Skitseblad med hoveder 1745 - 1802

Editor: So, this is "Skitseblad med hoveder", a sketch sheet of heads made sometime between 1745 and 1802, the artist is anonymous and the medium is graphite and pencil. The range of expressions is captivating. What sort of statement was the artist hoping to make? Curator: It's a fascinating glimpse into artistic training and social representation. Think about the period: late 18th century, Neoclassicism emphasizing order and reason, even in art. But who had the luxury to sit for these sketches, and for what purpose? Editor: Are you saying it's tied to class? These aren’t just random studies? Curator: Precisely. These are studies, yes, but also a reflection of the social elite. Note the hairstyles, the clothing in the sketches that have it - indications of status. Consider academic art's emphasis on the ideal, often based on classical notions of beauty which themselves were tied to social standing. What is excluded here is just as telling as what is included. Where are the laborers? The servants? Editor: Right, it presents this polished view of the world... I hadn’t thought about what’s absent. Curator: And how these sketches were originally presented also informs the historical context of the image. Was it shown publicly, or private for instructional purposes? This is housed at the SMK now; how does this change the nature of the art? Editor: The museum context gives them importance... and visibility! Before they might have been a private study and not even 'art' per se. Curator: Exactly! So it’s a simple study that reveals a lot about society, artistic training, and even the evolving role of the museum. Editor: It is truly so fascinating to hear it from that perspective! Thank you!