Illustration til B.S. Ingemann: "Forårs-morgensang" 1887

Hans Peter Hansen created this illustration for B.S. Ingemann's "Forårs-morgensang" using engraving techniques. The image encapsulates the rural life of 19th-century Denmark, reflecting the period’s burgeoning national romanticism. Notice the women at the well, their labor idealized, set against a backdrop of thatched roofs and agrarian activity. This scene evokes a sense of timeless tradition, a visual echo of Ingemann’s verses which celebrate the Danish landscape and cultural identity. Hansen’s choice to depict such a scene aligns with the cultural inclinations of the time, where art served to construct a cohesive national narrative. To fully appreciate this work, one must delve into the social conditions and the artistic institutions that shaped its creation, exploring literary and visual archives. The illustration serves as a window into the construction of Danish identity during a period of significant social and cultural change.