Prøveblad i stylografi med portræthoveder, bonde til hest m.m. 1845

Wilhelm Marstrand created this stylography proof sheet with portrait heads and a farmer on horseback in the 19th century. It's an etching, a medium that lends itself to social commentary. Marstrand was deeply involved in the Danish art world, becoming a professor at the Academy in Copenhagen and later its director. He captures the spirit of his time through genre paintings and historical scenes, but here he experiments with portraits of different types of men. The farmer on horseback might reference the peasantry and their role in Danish society. As a historian, I’m interested in understanding Marstrand's place within the artistic institutions of Denmark. Archival records from the Academy and studies of the Danish art market would further illuminate the social conditions that shaped Marstrand's production. By researching these contextual details, we can see how artistic choices reflect the artist's engagement with social, cultural, and institutional norms.