Illustration til Christian Winther, "Hjortens Flugt" 1898

Henrik Bornemann made this illustration for Christian Winther's poem "Hjortens Flugt." It's a landscape with dolmens, a stream, and fields, all rendered with a delicate touch. Bornemann, working in a period of Danish national romanticism, may have sought to connect the poem's themes to the physical landscape of Denmark itself. The dolmens, ancient burial monuments, evoke a sense of history and heritage, connecting the present to a distant past. The landscape might reflect the cultural and political concerns of the time. Artists and writers were often involved in defining and celebrating national identity. The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, for example, played a key role in promoting a particular vision of Danish art and culture. Was Bornemann's illustration a deliberate attempt to engage with these nationalistic sentiments? To fully understand the artwork, we can research the history of Danish art institutions, political movements, and literature. This helps us understand the complex interplay between art, culture, and society.