Landskab med køer. Småland 1842 - 1886

Carl Bøgh painted this “Landscape with Cows, Småland” in oils, capturing a seemingly simple scene. But landscape painting in 19th century Europe was never just about pretty views. This one, like many others, was an expression of national identity. Painted in Denmark, it depicts the Swedish region of Småland. Why? Because at the time, ideas of Scandinavian unity were gaining traction. Artists like Bøgh contributed to this by representing the shared landscapes and rural life of the Nordic countries. What makes this more than just propaganda, though, is its engagement with real social conditions. The painting acknowledges the economic importance of agriculture, and the lives of the people who depended on it. To understand paintings like this, we can look at exhibition records, the writings of art critics, and the artists' own letters. This helps us understand how art participates in the social and political dialogues of its time.