Det søde syn 1862

Adolph Kittendorff made this print, "Det søde syn," sometime in the nineteenth century, depicting two young girls outside a confectioner's shop, perhaps in Copenhagen. Consider the visual codes at play: The image's cultural references evoke a sense of innocence and childhood wonder, a common theme in nineteenth-century art. But, the image creates meaning through the historical associations with social class and access to luxury. The geography of Copenhagen, a bustling port city, influenced the economic structures that allowed confectioneries to thrive. The existence of such shops catering to indulgence reflects a certain level of societal affluence and hints at social stratification. The artist may be commenting on the social structures of his time by showing us the girls outside looking in, suggesting the exclusivity of such treats. To fully understand the context, we might consult historical records, social commentaries from the period, and studies of Danish cultural norms. Art, in this view, is a product of its time, shaped by social and institutional forces.