Vogn forspændt to heste 1881

Agnes Lunn made this pencil drawing of a horse-drawn cart sometime around 1885. The sketch depicts two horses hitched to a wagon, possibly carrying goods, rendered with a delicate, almost ethereal quality. Given Lunn's background, the choice of subject matter speaks to the social and economic realities of late 19th-century Denmark, when agricultural labor and animal power were still central to the economy. Yet, it could also be seen as a progressive statement: Lunn was a woman working as an artist at a time when that profession was largely dominated by men, so her choice of subject could have been a commentary on the changing roles of women in society and the art world. To understand Lunn's world better, we can consult archival materials, exhibition reviews, and other writings, to help reveal how her art engaged with the social and institutional contexts of her time. Because art always reflects both the artist's vision, but also the culture in which it was created.