Anders Arrebo & co. 1779 - 1781

J.F. Clemens made this print of 'Anders Arrebo & co.' at an unknown date using engraving. This artwork can be seen in the context of the burgeoning Danish literary canon and the institutional desire to create a national identity around a collection of great poets. The memorial depicted in the image features a list of names associated with a literary canon being built in Denmark. Denmark in the 18th century was a society with a strict class hierarchy that valued the arts, but also imposed censorship and exerted considerable influence on intellectual life. Commemorative monuments like the one depicted were designed to evoke a sense of national pride and cultural unity but they are also a tool of cultural governance. Art historians study the politics of imagery, and the social conditions that shape artistic production. By consulting historical archives, literary sources, and social histories, we can develop a richer understanding of how institutions like museums, galleries, and schools shape the reception of art. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.