Illustration til Chr. Richardt, "Naar jeg blir stor" 1847 - 1876

Editor: This is F. Hendriksen’s “Illustration til Chr. Richardt, “Naar jeg blir stor”,” made sometime between 1847 and 1876, using drawing, printmaking, engraving, ink, and what appears to be pencil. The image evokes a certain melancholy. The figure of the child feels rather isolated and solemn within the frame. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: The strength of this work lies in Hendriksen’s mastery of line. Observe how varying the pressure and density creates both form and texture. The hatching and cross-hatching, particularly in the child's overalls, don't just describe the garment, they suggest a certain weight, a palpable materiality. Notice too, the economy of line. The artist refrains from unnecessary details, focusing instead on the essential forms needed to convey the image. What do you make of the bare background? Editor: The bare background puts even more emphasis on the figure, focusing us on the child’s pose and expression. Is that sense of isolation intentional, then, directing our attention to the graphic form itself? Curator: Precisely. Consider the formal tension created. The softness of the child's features, rendered with delicate lines, is contrasted with the more angular treatment of the clothing and the starkness of the setting. There’s an inherent dichotomy in the execution that I find compelling. And tell me, does the engraver’s use of line here serve merely to illustrate or does it do something else, something more complex? Editor: It seems like it’s not just illustrating the poem; the technique itself is conveying feeling and depth. The formal elements enhance the narrative. I see it now. Thank you! Curator: Indeed, and paying close attention to the elements of form allows us entry to understanding its complexity.