Figurstudier 1810 - 1873

Wilhelm Marstrand made this pencil drawing called "Figurstudier," or "Figure Studies," which is now held at the Statens Museum for Kunst. This sketch gives us insight into the academic practices of 19th century Danish art. Marstrand was trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and he later became its director. Institutions like the Academy controlled the production and consumption of art. Emphasis was placed on mastering the human figure through careful study. This drawing would have been part of that process. Note the variety of poses and the attention to detail in the clothing. These are not idealized figures; they look like ordinary people. But their depiction is influenced by artistic conventions and by the expectations of the Academy. To understand this work fully, we must look at the history of art education and at the role of the Academy in shaping artistic taste. It is only by understanding the social and institutional context of art that we can fully appreciate its meaning.