Fronten af Vor Frue Kirke, København 1881

Niels Larsen Stevns created this pencil drawing, "Fronten af Vor Frue Kirke, København", in Denmark at an unknown date. The subject is Copenhagen’s Lutheran Cathedral, an important institutional landmark in the city. The neo-classical style of the church, with its columns and symmetrical design, speaks to the values of order and reason that were circulating in European culture at the time it was built in the early 1800s. However, Stevns’ sketch is less concerned with the church as an established institution. Instead, it captures a human element. Two small figures standing at the foot of the columns invite us to imagine the church as a public gathering place. Understanding the social role of this cathedral requires an understanding of the political, religious, and cultural history of Copenhagen. Such resources are easily accessible in the city’s museums and libraries. When we treat art as a product of its time, we can better appreciate its meaning and significance.