Artwork
Forfatterinden Juliane Marie Jessen

Forfatterinden Juliane Marie Jessen is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
She’s wearing a light-colored shawl and a dark dress, sitting with her hands resting on her lap.
This is a portrait of an older woman with light hair and a calm expression. She’s wearing a light-colored shawl and a dark dress, sitting with her hands resting on her lap. The background is plain and dark, keeping all the focus on her face.
The painting is signed with the year 1788, but it’s actually a photograph, not a painting. That’s unusual for the time.
If you’re curious about how photos like this were made, look up chiaroscuro.
Overview
Forfatterinden Juliane Marie Jessen is a photographic portrait from c. 1850, housed at the Museum of Ethnography. The work depicts an older woman with distinctive light hair and a serene demeanor.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Juliane Marie Jessen, is portrayed in a contemplative state, with her hands at rest in her lap. Her attire, consisting of a light shawl over a dark dress, contrasts against a plain, dark background, emphasizing her facial expression.
Technique & Style
Notably, this is an early photograph (signed with an anachronistic date of 1788), employing chiaroscuro techniques to achieve deep contrasts between light and dark, drawing attention to the subject's face.
History & Provenance
Created around 1850, the photograph is attributed to an unknown artist (previously misattributed due to the signed date of 1788). It is currently part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography.
Artist & collection



















