Fugleskydningsfesten i anledning af Frederik VII's fødselsdag 1859 ("Kúngip inûvia") 1857 - 1861

This color woodcut by Aron fra Kangeq, made around 1859, depicts "The Shooting Match on the Occasion of Frederik VII's Birthday". The composition is divided into distinct zones: the foreground filled with figures, a midground with architectural elements, and a background landscape featuring a gently sloping hill. The limited palette focuses attention on the contrast between the sandy yellows and muted greens of the landscape, and the reds, whites and blacks of the figures' clothing. The overall effect is one of compression, as the scene unfolds within a shallow space that lacks traditional depth cues. The arrangement encourages us to consider the relationship between the individual and the collective. Each figure is rendered with careful attention to detail, yet they form part of a larger group. This tension between particularity and uniformity challenges the viewer to question conventional notions of representation. Ultimately, the print's formal qualities invites us to reflect on the complexities of cultural identity and representation in Greenland in the mid-19th century.