Regnskab 1846 1846

This ledger page was created in 1846 by Martinus Rørbye, an artist deeply influenced by his travels and the cultural contexts he encountered. This page offers us a glimpse into the economic life of 19th-century Denmark, detailing expenditures and transactions. Consider how Rørbye, as a man of his time, was both shaped by and complicit in the socio-economic structures reflected in this account. It itemizes costs such as wages or goods for the army. What does it tell us about class structures, and the value placed on labor and materials? The neat script and orderly columns speak to the systems of control and documentation that were emerging as part of the burgeoning capitalist economy. As you reflect on this page, consider the unseen stories of those whose lives were reduced to mere entries in this ledger. It serves as a stark reminder of how personal narratives can become intertwined with broader economic and social forces.