En bejler 1876

Curator: Here we have "En bejler", or "A Suitor" by Balzer Dahl, created in 1876. It's a print, combining etching, engraving and woodcut techniques. Editor: Oh, what a character! He seems both comical and a bit… pathetic, maybe? Like a caricature, but drawn with affection. Is he meant to be some sort of period figure? Curator: Indeed. Dahl frequently explored genre scenes and character studies, and here, he's depicting a man dressed in what appears to be an approximation of historical garb, complete with a puffed doublet and what looks like partial armor. Notice his stance, and how he holds the bouquet – a little awkward, almost self-conscious. Editor: It’s all in the details, isn't it? The slightly too-big shoes, the hint of a smirk, that desperate bouquet clutched a bit too tightly. There’s something vulnerable about this presentation of masculinity; like it's teetering on the edge of farce, suggesting rigid gender expectations of the era. It's interesting that Dahl is already interrogating performance through art at this early stage. Curator: Absolutely. It prompts the viewer to think about societal roles and the performances we all put on, particularly in courtship. Look at the textures achieved through the etching and woodcut – the varying shades and sharp lines creating a lively impression. It feels almost journalistic. I wonder who his suitor will meet? Editor: That's a point worth dwelling on! There is a wider issue, or at least an inquiry into, the dynamic of those relationships. The performative dance that goes on in such an important moment of human interaction, which Dahl keenly analyses here, in the simplest strokes. I can definitely relate, and perhaps we all can. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. I always find something new to appreciate in the man's hopeful face.