"Pâmiut. Frederikshaab" 1872

Lars Møller made this drawing of Pâmiut, or Frederikshaab as it was then known, in Greenland, likely around the turn of the 20th century. It depicts a settlement dominated by simple wooden structures nestled at the base of imposing mountains. The image offers insight into the social and economic structures of Greenland under Danish colonial rule. The orderly arrangement of buildings suggests a planned settlement, reflecting the imposition of European models onto the existing landscape. Møller, himself of mixed Danish and Inuit heritage, worked within the colonial administration, and his art often reflects the complex relationship between colonizer and colonized. To fully understand this image, one would need to delve into the archives of the Danish colonial administration, as well as accounts from the local Inuit population. Such resources can reveal the lived experiences behind this seemingly simple depiction of a Greenlandic settlement and the subtle ways in which art can both reflect and challenge prevailing social norms.