Kvindelig modelstudie 1671 - 1738

This is Hendrik Krock's "Female Model Study," a drawing now held at the SMK in Copenhagen. Krock, who served as court painter, crafted this piece within the cultural milieu of late 17th and early 18th century Europe, a period marked by rigid social hierarchies and the dominance of the male gaze in artistic representations. Here, a female figure is rendered with an emphasis on classical ideals of beauty. Yet, within the lines of this study lies a tension. While the pose might suggest vulnerability, the model's gaze seems to challenge the viewer. What does it mean to depict a woman in this way, caught between objectification and agency? Consider how this image might echo or subvert the expectations placed on women within the cultural and social structures of Krock's time. It invites us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in representation, and the enduring complexities of viewing and being viewed.