Rytter og bommand 1810 - 1873

Wilhelm Marstrand made this drawing, "Rytter og bommand," with pencil and grey wash. It depicts a man on horseback and a toll collector at a gate. Marstrand was an important figure in the Danish Golden Age, a period of national romanticism. The drawing shows the influence of this movement, particularly the way it evokes everyday life. But the drawing also reflects the era’s social hierarchies. The rider, with his top hat and confident pose, clearly belongs to the upper class. The toll collector, in contrast, stands passively, marking his lower social standing. Understanding this drawing means looking into the historical context of 19th-century Denmark. Archival research into the period would provide more insight into the social dynamics and class distinctions that shaped Marstrand's artistic vision. Art history is not just about aesthetics, but also about understanding the values and structures of the societies that produce art.