Siddende, rygvendt kvinde 1840

Johan Thomas Lundbye created this drawing of a seated woman with her back turned, sometime in the 1840s. Executed with ink on paper, the artwork has a somewhat diagrammatic quality; a meticulous network of fine lines is used to describe the sitter. The composition focuses predominantly on the intricate details of the woman's dress. Lundbye uses a complex play of light and shadow, achieved through dense, cross-hatched lines, to define the structure of her clothing and the contours of her form. The ruffs and puffed sleeves are rendered with a careful attention to detail. This emphasis reflects a broader artistic interest in structure, with individual components coming together to create a coherent image. The woman's averted gaze invites speculation. Her posture might suggest introspection, yet it could also signify a resistance to conventional portraiture, thus challenging traditional artistic norms. This subversion of expectations encourages a deeper engagement with the artwork, thus prompting us to consider the sitter’s psychological state and the social constructs that shape her representation.