Portræt af en kvinde og en mand (Ofelia og selvportræt som Hamlet?) 1788 - 1841

This is Joseph Lange’s study, "Portrait of a Woman and a Man (Ophelia and Self-Portrait as Hamlet?)", held at the SMK. Executed in graphite, the soft gradations of tone create a nuanced interplay of light and shadow. The composition is striking, featuring two figures rendered in meticulous detail. The figures are positioned to engage in a silent dialogue across the picture plane. Lange employs the formal device of chiaroscuro, manipulating light to model form and evoke psychological depth. The texture of the hair is captured with a flurry of delicate lines. The artist destabilizes the traditional portrait by infusing it with theatrical and literary references. The two figures are arranged to form a dynamic, semiotic relationship. The woman's gaze upwards contrasts with the man's direct profile, suggesting an interplay of interiority and external presence. The formal balance of the composition subtly questions conventional gender dynamics and ways of seeing. The piece becomes a profound exploration of identity, representation, and the self, drawing the viewer into an intimate and introspective experience.