Botaniker og politiker J.F. Schouw 1851

Curator: Before us stands H.W. Bissen's 1851 marble bust, "Botaniker og politiker J.F. Schouw," currently held at the SMK, Statens Museum for Kunst. Editor: Its stark stillness immediately strikes me; the unwavering gaze coupled with the cool, impersonal marble makes me think about permanence and its relationship to power. Curator: That's interesting, given the context of the artwork's time. This bust immortalizes J.F. Schouw, not only a renowned botanist, but also an influential political figure deeply embedded within the complexities of 19th-century Danish society. How do you see that playing out? Editor: The unflinching expression seems purposeful. Beyond just portraying an individual, Bissen seems to be solidifying Schouw's image as an enlightened man. Think about the Neoclassical style. The artist's choice to present Schouw in marble with smoothed-over skin evokes this sense of heroic leadership. This creates an association between Schouw's intellect and the state’s ideals. Curator: I agree that it certainly monumentalizes Schouw. But how does that symbolism speak to audiences today, understanding the historical context of scientific racism that blossomed from the same period? Editor: That’s an important question. The artwork asks the viewer to acknowledge Denmark's complicated history. Here, a botanist who likely participated in the study of natural “sciences” encounters the viewer as a person, now, confronting legacies of race and empire. It really demands scrutiny. Curator: Right. A bust created by a society with blindspots that have since been illuminated in modern-day discourses on identity. This piece offers us a chance to see how monuments become sites of active reckoning with the past. Editor: Absolutely. These iconic symbols and what they signify are never static. The meaning attached to that kind of image evolves, often carrying multiple sometimes-conflicting emotional loads.