Skitse til "Fædrelandets Vaar" 1910

Editor: This is Agnes Slott-Møller's pencil sketch from 1910, "Skitse til 'Fædrelandets Vaar'", which translates to "Sketch for 'Springtime of the Fatherland.'" It’s on paper, and feels quite… fragile, almost tentative, yet the composition suggests a grand scale. What strikes you about it? Curator: I'm drawn to the central figures clustered around what appears to be a baptismal font or a communal vessel. Given the title, "Springtime of the Fatherland," consider how this scene evokes themes of national identity and renewal. Who is being reborn in this "spring"? Editor: That’s interesting, I was so focused on the figures. So you see this as representing rebirth for a nation, not necessarily just individuals? Curator: Exactly. Remember this was sketched during a period of intense national romanticism across Europe. What symbols are at play? What does "fatherland" even mean here? It's not just a geographic space but also a socially constructed entity steeped in gendered and often exclusionary ideals. Editor: Exclusionary? In what way? Curator: Think about who is included in this vision of the "fatherland," and who might be marginalized. Does this image reinforce a homogenous idea of national identity, potentially erasing diverse voices or experiences? It would be very interesting to study Slott-Møller's larger body of work through an intersectional lens, seeing how her depictions either challenge or uphold existing power structures. Who has access to that “springtime"? Editor: That adds such a critical layer to viewing this. I originally just saw a historical drawing, but it seems charged with social commentary about identity and belonging. Curator: Exactly, viewing this sketch provides an opportunity to dissect historical and social undertones within it, broadening it from mere art appreciation to an important moment of contemplation.