En gruppe ænder i Gæa, Æsthetisk Aarbog, 1845 1846

Curator: Ah, look closely. We are looking at Andreas Flinch’s “En gruppe ænder i Gæa, Æsthetisk Aarbog”, dating to 1846. It's a rather charming genre scene. What springs to mind when you see it? Editor: You know, there's this tranquil sense, a quiet little domestic scene unfolding in what looks like a perfectly contained world. Sort of nostalgic, if you ask me. Is it just me, or does this strike you as strangely soothing? Curator: Not at all. The ducks are shown with great attentiveness in a tranquil setting, hinting at the rising importance of the pastoral and homely in the cultural landscape. Editor: Those carefully hatched lines that form the ducks... You get this almost folksy feel from the whole thing. There’s an artlessness to it that seems so calculated. It makes me think about childhood and stories told next to the fireplace, even though, let’s be honest, I grew up watching TV. Curator: Flinch employs woodcut and drawing techniques to offer a look at what, on the surface, is merely ducks by a stream. However, the family of ducks could perhaps function as a mirror held up to Danish society, emphasizing the nuclear family ideal of the time. The arrangement emphasizes intimacy and harmony. Editor: That makes sense, really. Seeing all those ducklings bunched together practically shouts “family values”, even if the stream seems just a bit too idyllic. It all feels like the kind of idealized image folks tell themselves. Do you suppose someone saw a drawing like this and actually aspired to it, though? It’s like looking at a vintage postcard with its hyper-perfect setting and wondering if it reflects reality at all. Curator: Consider the landscape around them – the delicate details of the trees, for instance, give us an indication that humankind and nature coexist. As the piece was released in “Æsthetisk Aarbog,” perhaps there's a deeper comment about art's place in portraying national identity. Editor: Huh. So it’s ducks meets national allegory? Now I can't unsee it. Well, now I will think twice before dismissing what seems so straightforward. Turns out these ducks may quack more loudly than one thinks. Curator: Yes, looking closely rewards you every time.