Notater om at "gøre alting rigtigt"; om "Spændinger", "Energier", "Gnidninger" og "Modsætninger" 1914

Editor: We are looking at "Notater om at "gøre alting rigtigt"; om "Spændinger", "Energier", "Gnidninger" og "Modsætninger"," made in 1914 by J.A. Jerichau. It seems to be on paper and uses pencil and ink. The immediate impression is one of intimate, perhaps anxious scribblings, like a private notebook page. What can you tell us about this piece, beyond the surface? Curator: Well, beyond the scribbles, we have to consider the socio-political environment in 1914. This was right before World War One, a time of tremendous upheaval and uncertainty in Europe. "Tensions", "energies," "frictions," and "contradictions"—those words in the title leap out. Editor: How do those specific word choices inform your interpretation? Curator: I wonder if these "notes" are actually veiled references to the state of European politics at the time. Jerichau, perhaps unconsciously, transferred personal anxieties onto a larger canvas. Was he expressing the silent unease felt by many anticipating a continent-wide conflict? Or is he simply making notes for a personal project, as the initial title suggests? What do you think, as someone approaching this with fresh eyes? Editor: I guess the words are powerful enough to reflect that larger context, whether intended or not. The “doing everything right” bit is interesting as a kind of reaction to anxiety, as if perfectly managed details could prevent disaster, both personally and politically. Curator: Precisely. The power of art often resides in its unintended commentary. This seemingly private note opens up a window onto a world on the brink. Editor: It makes you consider the public role of something seemingly so private. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Examining art within its historical and cultural context always adds exciting layers to the experience.