Aalborg 1821

Søren L. Lange created this print of "Aalborg" sometime between 1760 and 1828, capturing a view of the Danish city. Prints like this offer a window into the ways 18th and 19th century Europeans viewed and represented their world. Lange's Aalborg isn't just a geographical record; it's a social document. The figures in the foreground, rendered in a style that emphasizes their connection to the land, suggest a certain romantic ideal of rural life. But who is absent from this idyllic scene? What stories remain untold? Consider how the rise of maritime trade, depicted by the ships at sea, impacted different social classes, and how the pursuit of commerce and wealth shaped identities and communities during this period. What did the artist choose to include and, perhaps more importantly, what did he omit? This image invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between progress, tradition, and the stories we tell about ourselves and our shared past.