Gammelt bondehus 1775 - 1851

Gottfried Schaper made this etching, "Gammelt bondehus", at an unknown date. What we see is a dwelling that appears in a humble state: a thatched roof, a timber construction, and a modest figure walking towards the house over a narrow bridge. This image provides a window into the cultural values of 19th-century Denmark. During this period, the Danish identity was being defined. Artists turned to the countryside and the peasantry as symbols of authenticity and national pride. The focus on rural life and the celebration of the common person can be seen as a reaction against the urban, aristocratic culture that had dominated previous centuries. The institutional promotion of such images by art academies and museums further cemented these values. To fully understand this etching, scholars might research the history of Danish nationalism, the art market of the time, and the biographies of both the artist and the patrons who supported this kind of work. In this way, the meaning of art becomes contingent on its social and institutional context.