Louise Marie Neergaard 1841

Johan Thomas Lundbye made this portrait of Louise Marie Neergaard in 1841 using a technique of pencil on paper. Lundbye was a Danish painter and graphic artist, known for his animal and landscape paintings. He was part of the Golden Age of Danish Painting during a time when artists contributed to a growing sense of national identity. Lundbye's decision to draw a portrait of Louise Marie Neergaard reflects the cultural values placed on representing individuals within society. The artwork itself creates meaning through visual codes. Louise Marie Neergaard is depicted with a sense of poise and grace, conforming to the visual standards of beauty of the time. This drawing offers insights into the social dynamics of 19th-century Denmark and comments on the social structures of its time. To understand it better, we need to investigate the archives, letters, and other period documents, to explore the social conditions that shaped Lundbye’s artistic production. We must always remember that the meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.