54. Flensborg. 1857 1857

This is Lorenz Frølich's 1857 pencil drawing, "54. Flensborg," now at the SMK. The drawing presents us with an intimate, affecting scene. A mother cradles her child, their figures softly rendered, as if emerging from the very fabric of the paper. Consider how Frølich uses line and shading to evoke texture and emotion. The delicate lines of the mother’s face, and the subtle shadows that define the child’s form, create a sense of tenderness. The composition, with its emphasis on the central, interconnected figures, reinforces this intimacy. The drawing invites us to reflect on the universal theme of motherhood, but also to consider the social and cultural values of 19th-century Denmark. It’s a poignant statement about human connection, depicted through careful manipulation of form.