Portræt af Elise Købke 1849

This is Constantin Hansen's portrait of Elise Købke, made using pen and ink on paper. The drawing’s fine lines create a sense of delicate precision, emphasizing the subtle contours of Elise’s face and the gentle folds of her clothing. Notice how Hansen uses hatching and cross-hatching to build up areas of shadow and volume, giving the portrait depth and dimension with just a simple tool and ground pigment. Hansen was part of the Danish Golden Age of painting, but like many artists of his time, he would have been trained in the discipline of drawing. It was seen as the foundation for all visual arts. His proficiency reflects countless hours of practice, mastering the control of line weight and tonal variation. The intimacy of this work also suggests a close relationship between artist and subject. Considering the time and skill involved, drawing was both a labor of love, and a demonstration of the artist’s mastery. This piece invites us to appreciate not only the final image, but also the dedication and skill that underpin its creation.