Oldtid - nutid no. 1 1815

Gerhard Ludvig Lahde's print juxtaposes "Oldtid" and "Nutid"– "old times" and "now"– a visual commentary rendered with etching. The spinning wheel and the dressing table take center stage, representing traditional labor versus modern leisure. The spinning wheel, a symbol of domesticity, evokes the ancient Greek myth of the Fates, who spun the thread of life. This echoes across time, reappearing in fairytales like Sleeping Beauty, where spinning determines destiny. But here, beside the modern woman’s dressing table, we find the mask of comedy staring back at us. The mask and the caged bird suggests a performance, freedom curtailed, as she adorns herself before a mirror. Is she creating a persona? These objects provoke powerful emotional associations, inviting viewers to reflect on the cyclical nature of progress. From the industrious spinning wheel to the artifice of the dressing table, Lahde captures a tension between duty and desire. The contrast resonates deeply, connecting the cultural memory with the subconscious, posing questions about authenticity, progress and what truly remains unchanged.