Kronprins Fredrik 1803

This print of Crown Prince Frederik was made by Gerhard Ludvig Lahde in Denmark at the beginning of the 19th century. It is not simply a portrait, but a statement of national identity. Consider the setting in which it was made: Denmark had survived the Napoleonic Wars but lost Norway in the process. The country was struggling to redefine itself. Lahde’s print suggests the means by which it might do so. The symbols of royalty combine with a patriotic verse in Danish; both are oriented, of course, to a Danish audience. The print is also an assertion of royal power at a time when monarchies across Europe were being threatened. It is a reminder that art of this period was rarely made for art's sake. Rather, it served the social and political needs of its patrons, whether individuals or institutions. To understand it better, we might research the history of the Danish monarchy, the role of the arts in Danish national identity, or the political context in which it was made.