Arkitekten Christian Hansen 1860

This sculpture, by H.W. Bissen, is a portrait of the architect Christian Hansen. Hansen lived during a time of immense shifts in European thought and society, when ideas about individual identity and national character began to take shape. In this context, portrait busts became a popular way to represent the self-made man, literally elevating them through sculpture. Carved in the Neoclassical style, the bust's somber, grey tone evokes the gravity of Hansen's profession. At the same time, the softness of his hair and the playful upturn of his mustache capture a sense of his individual personality. During this era, class distinctions were visibly marked in artistic portraits. While we can see the skill that afforded Hansen his profession, we also see the markers of success and belonging in his confident expression. His position would have afforded him privileges not available to people of color, or to women, who were frequently represented as muses rather than professionals. The artist gives us a glimpse into Hansen's world, and a sense of how he saw himself.