Portræt af Generalmajor L. Koefoed 1901

This portrait of Generalmajor L. Koefoed, made by Frans Schwartz, is rendered in thin and precise lines, creating a sense of texture on a flat surface. I can imagine Schwartz, bent over the plate, carefully etching away, line by line. It's amazing how a simple mark can evoke so much – the weight of the general's uniform, the glint of medals, even the texture of his beard. I wonder what Schwartz and Koefoed talked about during their sittings? Did the general fidget, or did he hold perfectly still? As a painter myself, I feel the intimacy of this exchange between artist and subject. This portrait reminds me of other etchings I’ve seen, like Rembrandt's, where every line feels deliberate and full of life. Artists are always building on what came before, borrowing and transforming ideas. It's a visual conversation that stretches across time, and we, as viewers, get to eavesdrop. Each mark is open to interpretation, and the image can keep shifting.