Den gamle gæstgivergård i Ferring 1901

Niels Bjerre made this drawing of the old inn at Ferring with pencil on paper. Drawn in Denmark, this sketch gives us insight into the social function of art at the turn of the 20th century. During this time, artists began to turn away from traditional academic painting toward more naturalistic depictions of everyday life. The inn was a crucial part of rural Danish society, serving as a gathering place for locals and travellers alike. Bjerre's choice of subject reflects a broader interest in the lives of ordinary people. Consider how the landscape is rendered here. The sparse use of line, the muted tones, create a sense of quietude and isolation. This aesthetic choice might be read as a comment on the changing social landscape of rural Denmark, as urbanization and industrialization began to transform traditional ways of life. Historical research into Danish social and economic history would offer a deeper understanding of the context in which Bjerre made this drawing.