Forår 1821 - 1824

Oluf Olufsen Bagge made this print, titled "Forår," using engraving, a painstaking process of incising lines into a metal plate. The image shows a personification of Spring, adorned with a wreath. Look closely, and you'll see the effect of Bagge's deliberate mark-making; these precise cuts dictate the image's tonality and form. Engraving is not a spontaneous act; it requires careful planning and exceptional skill. The engraver's hand transforms metal into a matrix for reproduction, demanding both artistry and technical expertise. In its time, this print would have been a relatively accessible artwork, a means of disseminating images to a broader audience. Yet, we shouldn't overlook the labour involved in its production. Each line represents hours of concentrated work, a testament to the engraver's dedication. This invites us to consider how value is assigned to both the artwork and the labour that brings it into being. By attending to these processes, we gain a richer appreciation for this image and the broader context of its creation.