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At a Window in the Artist's Studio

Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg1852

SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst

SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst
Copenhagen, Denmark

The two figures in the picture are probably C.W. Eckersberg’s daughters, Julie and Emilie, who despite their small stature were adults when Eckersberg used them as models.

The two women in the picture

The artist positioned the women by one of the studio windows facing Kongens Nytorv. They do not look out the window, but are reading a book. Their position next to the tall windowsill makes them look smaller than they are. The scene with the two women is virtually empty of narrative content.

The real subject of the picture: The room

The picture’s real subject could be said to be the room in which the scene takes place. It is clearly structured with a strong accent on light and surfaces. All elements are perfectly balanced in relation to each other, the dark curtain is linked to the partially or fully lit shutters, stressing the surface that is repeated and broken by the stepladder and the paintbox on the stool; indeed the dense light in the entire room is carefully harmonised with the paler light outside.

Inner harmony as contrast to chaos

As in many of his other works, Eckersberg uses mathematics and the principles of perspective to construct a universe where an inner harmony, determined by the rational laws of nature, could keep chaos at bay.

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  • Title: At a Window in the Artist's Studio
  • Creator: C.W. Eckersberg
  • Creator Lifespan: 1783 Blåkrog near Aabenraa - 1853 København
  • Creator Nationality: Danish
  • Creator Gender: Male
  • Creator Death Place: København
  • Creator Birth Place: Blåkrog near Aabenraa
  • Date Created: 1852
  • Værktekst: Billedets to figurer er sandsynligvis C.W. Eckersbergs døtre, Julie og Emilie, som deres lidenhed til trods var voksne, da Eckersberg brugte dem som modeller. Kunstneren har anbragt dem ved et af atelierets vinduer, der vender ud mod Kongens Nytorv. Kvindernes anonymitet Kvinderne ser ikke ud, men kigger i en bog, stående ved den høje vindueskarm, der får dem til at syne mindre, end de er. Scenen med de to kvinder, der er "anonyme" og næsten identiske, er på det nærmeste tømt for handling. Rummet som billedets indhold Billedets egentlige indhold er snarere det rum, scenen er indfældet i. Det er anskueligt og klart struktureret med en stærk betoning af lys og flade. Alle elementer er harmonisk afbalanceret i forhold til hinanden, det mørke gardins flade forbindes med de helt eller delvist belyste skodder, hvis fladevirkning gentages og brydes af trappestigen og malerkassen på skammelen, ja hele rummets fortættede lys er stemt af mod det blegere lys udenfor. Harmoni som modvægt til kaos På grundlag af matematikken og perspektivlæren har Eckersberg i dette som i andre værker konstrueret en billedverden, hvor den indre, lovbundne harmoni, bestemt af naturens fornuft, kunne holde kaos på afstand.
  • Teknik: Pen, gråt blæk, pensel, grå og brun lavering over blyant; indrammet med pensel og lys blå vandfarve
  • Proveniens: Køb 1892
  • Provenance: Acquired 1892
  • Physical Dimensions: w23.1 x h27.4 cm (Without frame)
  • Dansk link: http://www.smk.dk/index.php?id=1302
  • Dansk Titel: Ved et vindue i kunstnerens atelier
  • Type: Drawing
  • Rights: Statens Museum for Kunst, http://www.smk.dk/en/copyright/creative-commons/
  • Medium: Pen, grey ink and brown wash over pencil framed in light blue watercolour
SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst

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