Bedømmelsesblad fra Den danske Landmandsforsamling 1820 - 1901

This ‘Bedømmelsesblad fra Den danske Landmandsforsamling’ – or judging sheet from the Danish Farmers Assembly – was made by Adolph Kittendorff sometime in the 19th century using printmaking techniques. The lithographic process allowed for the relatively quick and easy reproduction of this document. The texture of the paper, combined with the sharp lines of the print, emphasizes its practical function. We see vignettes of agricultural life – images of harvesting, tending to livestock, and working the land— all framed by stylized crops. These are all rendered with an attention to the labor involved. This document speaks to a moment of transition in agricultural practices. The industrialized printing process mirrored the broader changes in farming itself. The design reinforces the cultural value of agriculture, while also facilitating its administration. In this single sheet of paper we see the intersection of craft, labor, and the changing social landscape of 19th-century Denmark. It reminds us that even seemingly functional objects are imbued with cultural meaning, blurring the lines between art and everyday life.