Studie til det Rybergske familiebillede; Johan Christian Rybergs venstre hånd holdende en hat 1796 - 1797

Curator: This sketch, dating from 1796-97, offers an intimate glimpse into the working methods of Jens Juel, a leading portraitist of the Danish Golden Age. It's titled "Studie til det Rybergske familiebillede; Johan Christian Rybergs venstre h\u00e5nd holdende en hat," a study for the Ryberg family portrait. What do you make of it? Editor: I’m struck by its quiet intensity. The focus on just the hand, holding what seems to be the brim of a hat. There's a vulnerability and tenderness in its rendering, achieved with minimal strokes of pencil and pastel. Hands are often seen as signifiers. I wonder what kind of associations and social position are evoked by a hand posed like that? Curator: Indeed. Juel was commissioned to paint the Ryberg family, prominent figures in Danish society at the time. Johan Christian Ryberg was a wealthy merchant and shipowner. Such a commission solidified Juel's reputation within the upper echelons of Danish society. This particular study highlights Juel’s academic precision; his careful observation before embarking on the full oil painting. The hat might not just be a detail of attire. In portraiture, the way a subject holds a hat could represent societal role, occupation, or status. It signals Ryberg’s affluence and a certain formality. Editor: Absolutely. A hat as a crown. Beyond status, the hand itself is doing work: holding something, supporting a weight. There’s labor even in seeming leisure. The subtle coloration emphasizes the lifelike quality of flesh and bone, while the slightly rough lines suggest it's a work in progress, capturing an essential moment on its way to an ideal. It adds another layer; a transient, incomplete humanity revealed through careful study. What is finally shown and what it initially implied may say something important, about society's aspirations in that period. Curator: You're right. And the placement of the hand holding the hat at waist level brings attention to the clothing and the posture. All contributing to an overall image that’s controlled but relaxed, confident, which of course reinforces Ryberg’s position in society. Editor: It's fascinating how such a simple sketch opens up avenues to broader ideas of status and personhood. The hand alone bears the weight of that representation. Curator: Agreed. It reveals how even a preparatory sketch holds its own cultural significance and artistic merit.