For A Moment Of Calm
She is a sketch, part of an outline for a decorated mirror. She herself would in other words be mirrored to the right, both of her iterations resting atop the golden tablet or the base of a candelabrum. A number of persons and animals would join her above, dancing, standing, or sitting, while new elements were to sprout next to them or encircling them. This is the base of a grotesque decoration and anything can and will happen in a grotesque.
We do not know if she became a reality. She could have been made for a private home or maybe she was meant to be part of the dining room in the King's chambers next to the Parliament, which Valdemar Andersen decorated. He made decorated mirrors for the room, but the idea of including them were abandoned during the almost 10 years of fighting (everyone but Valdemar) it took to create the chambers.
Her right leg is out of joint. This is a sketch after all and a detail to be corrected when the design for the completed grotesque were to be decided. Without that leg, however, she would be too solidly placed, while the leg elongates the tilt of her head.
Her quiet contemplation draws us in. The red line running along her forehead reveals her deep in thoughts. Not melancholy ones, the blue fabric is running all too lightly around her for that. But calm contemplation within herself. She is in her own world with a shoulder protecting her from interruption. We can partake in, but shall not disrupt her calm.
