Billede 6 1838

Curator: Well, immediately, I'm picking up on a dynamic, slightly chaotic energy. It’s the tangle of these canine forms. A bit scratchy, maybe, in a compelling way. What's your sense? Editor: It is dynamic! Look at the furious scrawling. I want to draw your attention to "Billede 6" by Lorenz Frølich, an engraving, drawing, and print created in 1838. It is currently located at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. Curator: Ah, Denmark! Fascinating! That time period would have coincided with the Danish Golden Age, so seeing how even playful or mundane subject matter is charged with meaning makes me think of those strong currents. These aren't just dogs at play. Editor: Precisely! It also could reference the ancient Greek symbol of dogs, Kerberos. Notice, though, that while the action unfolds between those dogs in the foreground, another pair of dogs looks on from afar as they embrace. Curator: It creates such a brilliant contrast, a subtle visual cue about societal structure maybe, the 'outsiders' vs the ‘insiders'. What do you make of the fact that it is done as a drawing? I'm really picking up on how the use of line itself almost feels like the frantic scribbles of memory. Editor: Memory perhaps, or immediate observation recorded with energetic precision. The lack of color concentrates the scene; nothing distracts us from their forms. Those aggressive hatch marks, used for shadows! Even on a small scale like this, they bring the intensity of this canine drama to life. What lingers with you most? Curator: The composition as a whole is simple, but rich with subtle meaning. From the embrace to the action, there’s so much to unpack! Editor: Absolutely, this piece speaks to more profound dynamics about intimacy and belonging – which, ultimately, still make us sit and consider man's best friend!