Oldtid - nutid no. 1 1815

Gerhard Ludvig Lahde's "Oldtid - nutid no. 1" (1815) is a satirical engraving depicting a woman spinning wool in the left panel, representing the past, and a woman applying makeup in the right panel, representing the present. The inscription at the bottom reads “Ohvilken Vending, om det gik / Efter hün gamle gode Shiksh" (What a turn it would take, if it went according to her old good customs). Lahde uses the two contrasting scenes to critique the changing social and cultural norms of the time, with the woman of the past representing a more traditional and industrious lifestyle and the woman of the present representing a more modern and frivolous lifestyle. This work is a prime example of Lahde's skill in political satire and his use of engraving as a medium to comment on social issues.