En by i en dal 1746

Johanna Fosie created this etching titled "En by i en dal" – A Town in a Valley – sometime in the mid-18th century. The image presents us with a bird's-eye view of a small, fortified town nestled in a valley, likely in Denmark. Such topographical views were popular at the time, often commissioned by civic authorities eager to promote their towns. But Fosie's print is interesting because it was made by a woman, at a time when printmaking was dominated by men. This raises questions about her position in the art world and the kinds of opportunities available to female artists. The print's simple style suggests it may have been intended for a more popular audience. It invites us to consider the social and economic life of the town. Did Fosie have a particular political or social agenda in depicting this town? Perhaps further archival research into the artist's life, combined with a broader study of 18th-century Danish print culture, might offer some clues.