En kalkun 1865

This pencil drawing, “En kalkun”, was made by P.C. Skovgaard, and it is currently located at the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst. While seemingly simple, it provides insight into the artist’s world and the institutional structures that shaped his art. Skovgaard was a key figure in the Danish Golden Age of painting, a period of intense national romanticism. The sketch shows a man in formal attire, possibly a self-portrait, with faint outlines of other figures nearby. The drawing's intimate scale suggests a private moment of reflection. Danish art during this period was heavily influenced by the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, which emphasized national themes and promoted a particular style. Skovgaard’s engagement with Danish landscapes and culture aligned with this institutional agenda, yet his personal sketches offer a more nuanced view of his artistic practice. By studying Skovgaard's sketchbooks and the records of the Royal Academy, we can better understand the interplay between personal expression and institutional expectations in 19th-century Danish art.