Marmeren beeld 'Mignon' van Eugene-Antoine Aizelin in de Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Kopenhagen after 1903

Editor: Here we have a photo of Eugene-Antoine Aizelin's marble sculpture, "Mignon," residing in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen, taken sometime after 1903. I find the statue incredibly melancholic, she is such a lovely form, but burdened. What are your thoughts when you look at it? Curator: That sense of melancholic beauty is precisely what made these types of sculptures so popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Think about the role museums played then - places of civic pride and displays of cultural achievement, but also sites where narratives of ideal beauty and even tragic heroism were presented to the public. Consider the subject "Mignon," a character from Goethe's "Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship." How does choosing a literary figure affect its public role? Editor: That's a fascinating connection! It reframes the sculpture; it’s no longer just about beauty but also about invoking this cultural narrative. What was it about this tragic heroism that resonated so deeply? Curator: Exactly. Europe at the time was grappling with rapid industrialization, urbanization and shifts in social hierarchies. The tale of a lost, beautiful soul provided a kind of emotional counterpoint to the relentless march of modernity. In that sense, it functions as both an escape and a form of critique. How might the display context—the Glyptotek itself—affect our perception? Editor: The Glyptoteket feels relevant to that idea. It would enshrine the art, and create a sort of sanctified space for it away from, as you put it, "the relentless march of modernity". I see your point; understanding the historical context enriches my experience with the sculpture immensely. Thanks! Curator: Absolutely! Thinking about art within these layers – the artist’s intention, the museum’s role, and the audience’s reception – allows for a richer appreciation, doesn't it? I also find the literary context insightful in considering our contemporary museum experience, as well.