Ove Gedde 1661 - 1662

Curator: What a striking print! This engraving from 1661-1662 by Albert Haelwegh portrays Ove Gedde, a prominent figure in Danish history, and is currently held at the SMK, the Statens Museum for Kunst. Editor: My immediate reaction is how imposing it feels! The oval portrait is almost crushed by all the symbolism, and there is so much texture – the armor, the books, the heraldry – vying for attention with the person. The dark mood is palpable, and yet something in Gedde’s gaze feels…resigned? Curator: Resigned, yes, perhaps burdened by his role. Gedde was, after all, instrumental in establishing Danish colonies in India, and his life was deeply entwined with the expansion and politics of the Danish realm. Consider the backdrop in the portrait—ships at sail. This hints at his naval command. Editor: That backdrop almost disappears among all of the surrounding iconographic information! But those ships also make me consider his relationship with the sea. And the two warrior figures that guard either side of the portrait…they seem so antiquated, and not just stylistically. On the left, that almost feminine figure with the shield and grimace face... What could that refer to? Curator: These figures, flanking the oval frame, allude to qualities Gedde might have wanted to project: strength and wisdom perhaps. These allegorical figures were common devices for communicating virtues and power in the Baroque era. It’s a calculated attempt to establish legacy. He would have understood his legacy through a Classical lense. Editor: Speaking of legacy, do you think there's any sense that Gedde commissioned this himself, to consolidate his historical persona? Curator: Undoubtedly. Print portraits like these were often commissioned to circulate and reinforce a specific image of the sitter. Consider, also, how his familial coat-of-arms is displayed with such pride above the oval! It's a display of lineage, power, and lasting impact. Editor: It’s a fascinating glimpse into the construction of identity and authority through visual symbols. All the layered, sometimes contradictory messages woven into this print speak volumes about the complexities of Gedde's world—and maybe ours too. Curator: Absolutely. It highlights the careful construction of historical figures and how art became an integral tool of shaping narratives about powerful men like Ove Gedde in the 17th century.