God nat!; Vogterdrengen 1845

This print, made by Adolph Kittendorff, presents two scenes in monochrome. "Good Night!" depicts domestic fowl, while "The Shepherd Boy" shows a boy guarding sheep. Prints like this one, produced in Denmark, are often viewed through a nationalistic lens, celebrated for their depictions of rural life and local customs. However, let's consider the institutional forces at play. Who was the intended audience for these images? Were they aimed at urban elites, yearning for an idealized countryside, or did they serve as a form of social instruction for the working classes? The choice of subject matter, the style of rendering – all these elements can be seen as participating in a larger cultural project, reinforcing particular values and beliefs. To truly understand this print, we need to delve into the social and economic conditions of 19th-century Denmark, examining how art served as a mirror, or perhaps a carefully constructed window, onto the world.