Bertel Thorvaldsen 1820 - 1852

Curator: Looking at this somber portrait, I feel a powerful connection to classical ideas of craftsmanship. Editor: I agree. J.F. Clemens produced this print of Bertel Thorvaldsen between 1820 and 1852. It's an engraving on paper, a wonderful example of neoclassical portraiture found here at the SMK. It certainly has a stately, formal mood. Curator: Exactly. The almost sepia tones enhance the impression of looking back to ancient models. His confident, yet somewhat weary gaze suggests someone very aware of the historical importance of their role. I also see the shadow of colonialism cast in his hand leaning against his craft. What was the cultural context in which it was made? Editor: Thorvaldsen achieved considerable international acclaim during his lifetime. It's worth thinking about the museum context, too. Statens Museum for Kunst, being the Danish national gallery, actively constructed a national artistic identity throughout the 19th century. Displaying works like this reinforces that idea, casting Thorvaldsen as a cornerstone of Danish art history and as someone aligned with European art. The almost eerie white palette is symbolic of his neutrality in times of revolution across Europe. Curator: But what of those marginalized during that neoclassical revival? Neoclassicism so often served as an aesthetic justification for empires, masking underlying power structures with a veneer of virtue. Doesn't that color symbolize exclusion? And do we consider its role in perpetuating racialized ideals of beauty? Editor: I concede your point that such representations are never neutral. But I see here less an active political statement, more a reflection of the dominant aesthetic values of the time—the institution’s embrace of idealized forms. Curator: Perhaps both can be true. Even without actively endorsing those ideals, this portrait nonetheless participates in a tradition that has had real-world consequences on those who were denied the luxury of white-marble-god status. Editor: Thank you for your compelling insight. By considering this piece, hopefully we can view these artists through multiple, evolving lenses. Curator: Agreed. It prompts necessary dialogues about historical privilege, representation, and who gets remembered, in what light.