Constantin Hansen, stående, hel figur 1810 - 1848

Christen Købke captured Constantin Hansen with delicate strokes in this drawing, a study of a man draped in what appears to be a large shawl and a distinctive fez-like hat. This headwear strikes a chord deep within our collective memory; it is a distant echo of the ancient fez, a symbol of status and religious affiliation across various cultures. Look at similar headwear in Renaissance paintings, adapted and recontextualized, signaling exoticism. The draping shawl, reminiscent of classical togas, yet rendered with an orientalist flair, evokes a sense of cultural fusion. It’s fascinating to observe how motifs like these transcend geographical boundaries, acquiring new connotations as they journey through time.