En hjoredreng 1880

Hans Smidth made this watercolor on paper titled 'A Deer Boy'. Although undated, we can situate it within a period of Danish art that was preoccupied with rural life and national identity. Consider, for example, the way the artist has captured the clothing of a rural worker. In Denmark, the late 19th century was a time of agricultural reform and this piece can be seen in the context of an art market that was interested in images of everyday life far removed from the concerns of the city. This piece allows us to consider the relationship between the institution of art and the economic conditions of its time. To understand the painting more fully, we might examine the archives of art dealers and collectors, looking for information about the market for such works and the social status of its typical consumers.