Erindring fra oktober 1850. Fem frivillige ved 2. bataillon 1850 - 1899

Editor: Here we have F.C. Lund’s "Erindring fra oktober 1850. Fem frivillige ved 2. bataillon" created sometime between 1850 and 1899. It’s an engraving, a print of five men in profile. They all look rather stoic, a bit somber. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Isn't it interesting how these faces, lined up almost like specimens, tell such different stories? I get a real sense of individuality, peering into these fellows' pasts and what they carry. And the way Lund uses such delicate lines! It almost feels like he's whispering secrets. It makes me think about national identity and brotherhood. Do you see how he has depicted each face? What can you read there? Editor: Well, some look weary, others more determined. There’s a realism here, an honest portrayal that moves beyond simple idealization. But given the title, shouldn’t they appear… braver, somehow? Curator: Perhaps bravery isn’t always loud. Maybe Lund captured that quiet resolve that simmers beneath the surface, the kind that comes before facing the unknown. What is more brave than uncertainty? Or, maybe this work makes you consider what it truly means to remember. I wonder, were these portraits based on sketches from life or from memory itself? Editor: That’s a good question, the details do seem so specific. I hadn't considered how memory itself plays a role in how we view historical images like this. Curator: Precisely! It's a conversation between the artist, the subject, and us, across time. Editor: Definitely given me a fresh perspective. Thanks!