Artwork

Maleren Thorald Læssøe som dreng

Maleren Thorald Læssøe som dreng, by Unknown, 1850
Maleren Thorald Læssøe som dreng, by Unknown, 1850

Maleren Thorald Læssøe som dreng is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Maleren Thorald Læssøe som dreng is a mid-19th-century photographic portrait depicting a young Thorald Læssøe, a future painter, captured in a solemn demeanor.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, a light-haired youth with a serious expression, is dressed in a high-collared shirt with ruffled cuffs, conveying a sense of formality and introspection. The pose, with hands resting on the chest, suggests a contemplative or reserved personality.

Technique & Style

The black-and-white photograph features simple, dramatic lighting that emphasizes the subject's face through chiaroscuro, while the plain, dark background and soft, faded tones with subtle edge degradation evoke an antique, vintage quality.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1850 by an unidentified photographer (referred to as '181_person' in archival records), the work is part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography.

Context

While the photograph's context within the Museum of Ethnography might imply a broader cultural or societal study, the image itself focuses narrowly on the individual, suggesting its primary value lies in portraiture or the subject's future artistic significance.

Legacy

The photograph's legacy is closely tied to its subject, Thorald Læssøe, as a historical record of the painter's youth, rather than the photograph itself being renowned for photographic innovation or artistic influence.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known