En snedkersvend 1900

Frants Henningsen made this small print of a journeyman carpenter in Denmark at the end of the 19th century. It offers a window into the social realities of the time. The image itself is a study in the visual codes of class and labor. The carpenter is depicted in his work clothes but he tips his hat in a manner that asserts his dignity. This was a period of intense social change in Denmark, and the image participates in the wider cultural discussion around the role and status of the working class. Henningsen often focused on the lives of ordinary people, and this work reflects an interest in the individual stories within larger social movements. To fully appreciate the print, we can consult historical records, union archives, and even literature from the period. These resources help us to understand how the artist and the society in which he lived saw the role of the working class. Art like this reminds us that its meaning is always tied to its time.