Road in a Hilly Landscape 1845 - 1848

Dankvart Dreyer painted this small landscape on canvas, and although it is undated, it was likely made in the mid-19th century. It shows a road winding through a gently rolling landscape. Dreyer was a Danish artist working during a period of intense national self-reflection. Following the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark was diminished and there were efforts to define a unique Danish identity. Artists turned to the local landscape for inspiration, trying to capture the essence of Denmark. Looking at this painting, we might ask: what makes this scene distinctly Danish? Is it the particular type of vegetation, the light, or the topography? Art historians use sources such as letters, diaries, and exhibition reviews to understand the artist's intentions and the reception of their work. In this way, we understand how art is always entangled with the social and political conditions of its time.