Mødet i skoven 1856 - 1859

P.C. Skovgaard made this drawing, "Mødet i skoven," or "Meeting in the Forest," using pen and ink. It captures an encounter between a hunter and a deer. This image evokes Denmark’s deeply rooted cultural connection to its natural landscape during the 19th century. Skovgaard was a key figure in the Danish Golden Age, a period marked by a surge in national romanticism. He was a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. The Academy played a crucial role in shaping artistic identity and national pride. The hunter, equipped with his rifle, stands face-to-face with the deer. The hunter is not in the act of aggression, but rather offering something to the deer. It suggests a moment of contemplation or perhaps even a critique of humanity's relationship with nature. Is he acting as a steward of the forest? To fully appreciate Skovgaard’s work, we delve into archives and historical accounts, examining the institutional frameworks that supported and shaped artistic production in 19th-century Denmark. This way we can understand the role of art in reflecting and shaping cultural values.