Portrait of the Norwegian Keeper of National Antiquities, Christopher Brinckmann 1904

Here we see a painting by Henrik Lund depicting Christopher Brinckmann, the Norwegian Keeper of National Antiquities. The canvas comes to life through a dance of greys and blacks, where each brushstroke feels deliberate, searching. Imagine Lund standing before his subject, trying to capture not just a likeness, but the essence of Brinckmann's being. The paint looks quite thin, as if applied in layers, building up the form gradually. I wonder, was Lund trying to capture the weight of history that Brinckmann carried? Look at the way Lund defines the face, the sharp angles of the jaw, the thoughtful gaze behind the glasses. You get a sense of a person deeply immersed in thought, someone who values the past but also exists very much in the present. Lund's work reminds me of other portrait painters like Manet, who used the language of painting to explore the complexities of human character. It's like they're all in conversation across time.