Karikatur af en pukkelrygget kone med en vifte i hånden 1743 - 1809

Editor: This drawing by Nicolai Abildgaard, sometime between 1743 and 1809, is titled "Caricature of a hunchbacked woman with a fan in her hand," a pencil work now at the SMK. What strikes me is the directness, almost brutal honesty of the portrayal. How can we understand this caricature today? Curator: Consider how Abildgaard employs distortion here. Not merely to mock physical deformity, but perhaps to represent societal imbalances. The fan, for instance – a symbol of high society and flirtation. Juxtapose that with her evident physical challenges, and what story begins to unfold? Editor: I hadn't thought about the fan that way. So, it’s not just a funny drawing, but a commentary on social status? Curator: Precisely. The hunchback, an outsider. The fan, a borrowed or perhaps mocked affectation of the elite. Think of the symbolism embedded in the posture itself – arms tightly crossed, almost defensive. What emotions does that evoke for you? Editor: A sense of isolation, maybe even a hint of defiance. It makes me wonder if the artist felt sympathy, or was simply being cruel. Curator: It is this very ambiguity which invites interpretation. Is she a victim of societal scorn or a resilient figure challenging convention? These were turbulent times and artists expressed their convictions through allegory and visual codes. Can we, perhaps, discern Abildgaard's conviction here? Editor: That's fascinating. It changes my whole perspective on the piece, to think about all the historical, social and symbolic elements shaping the meaning behind a simple pencil sketch. Curator: Indeed. What appears initially as mere caricature reveals layers of cultural and emotional depth, resonating with timeless themes of identity, perception, and the enduring human spirit.