Scene af Tobias` Historie 1826

Edvard Sonne created this scene from the story of Tobias, using pen and black ink. Sonne was working in the Golden Age of Danish painting, a time of national romanticism, and he often took inspiration from religious and historical narratives. In this story from the Book of Tobit, we see Tobias returning home with his new wife Sarah, to cure his father’s blindness. This work captures a moment of familial reunion, reflecting themes of healing, restoration, and divine intervention, that were very powerful in the context of the time it was made. Consider how gender roles are depicted here; Sarah is central to the narrative, yet her agency is somewhat passive, framed within her role as a wife. The artist invites us to reflect on the roles we play within our families and communities. How do we find ways to heal and support each other through difficult times? This is a story about faith and family, but it also touches on the social expectations placed on individuals, particularly women, in 19th-century Denmark.