On Forbidden Roads (stydy) 1880

Hans Andersen Brendekilde painted 'On Forbidden Roads' using oil on canvas. Brendekilde came from a poor background and his paintings often reflect a deep sensitivity to the lives of the working class. Here, we see a solitary figure walking through a dense forest, an ax slung over his shoulder and a small basket in hand, suggesting he is foraging. The ambiguity of the title, however, hints at something more. What is forbidden, and who is excluded from the bounty of nature? In the late 19th century, rural populations faced increasing economic hardship due to industrialization. The man's somber expression and the title of the work evoke a sense of desperation and the transgression of social boundaries. Brendekilde’s art often blurs the line between sentimentalism and social critique. The emotional weight of the image lies in the man's isolation, and his journey through the shadowy woods prompts us to consider the cost of survival.