Mod solen i Nakkehoved 1900

Axel Holm created this print of Nakkehoved, Denmark, using etching. The image conveys a sense of tranquility and escape, but how might we understand that in terms of the cultural and institutional landscape? Prints were particularly important in the late 19th century. They offered artists a way to reach a wider audience outside the elite circles of the Salon system. Artists’ associations began to spring up across Europe and Scandinavia, and these provided exhibition opportunities, critical support, and sometimes even direct patronage. A print like this could be acquired at a reasonable cost by members of the middle class, who were eager to participate in a broader art culture. As historians, we need to look at these kinds of institutional contexts to fully understand the artwork and the society that produced it. By consulting archives and period publications, we can gain a richer appreciation of the role art played at the time.