Peter R. Saabye 1767 - 1824

Curator: Let’s look at this portrait of Peter R. Saabye from 1767 to 1824. It’s an engraving. What strikes you? Editor: It's interesting to see this print! There's a real sense of stoicism in his profile, even in this small format. It seems very controlled. How do you interpret this work, beyond the surface? Curator: Precisely. The “controlled” aesthetic links directly to the political environment of the time. Neoclassicism, to which this work belongs, wasn’t just an art movement; it was a visual manifesto that upheld ideals tied to social and political order. Editor: Interesting! So this image does reflect that? Curator: Definitely! Notice how Saabye's portrait evokes ancient Greek and Roman ideals of virtue and citizenship. The sharp, clean lines of the engraving style were themselves associated with clarity, reason, and stability. Can art ever be apolitical, do you think? Editor: Well, if this portrait reflects its political period, that definitely raises an eyebrow, in light of neutrality! In art school, we learn so much about aesthetic choices but not as much about this level of symbolism and the way power dynamics influence art. I never considered art could be made to that effect. Curator: I think this image demonstrates that well! Editor: Looking at art like this makes me rethink so many choices in my work, particularly which references I may bring up when conceptualizing and creating something.