Grønlændere i et hus. Fortællingen om Kassagssuk; hans tænder trækkes ud? 1827 - 1901

Editor: This woodcut print, titled "Grønlændere i et hus. Fortællingen om Kassagssuk; hans tænder trækkes ud?", or "Greenlanders in a House. The Story of Kassagssuk; his teeth are pulled out?" made by Rasmus Berthelsen between 1827 and 1901, depicts what appears to be a domestic scene with a rather violent act occurring. What is your interpretation of the cultural context depicted? Curator: This piece demands we consider its historical context, particularly regarding colonial representations of indigenous peoples. The act of tooth extraction, seemingly brutal, needs to be unpacked. Was this a genuine record of cultural practice, or was it mediated by the artist’s, or perhaps commissioner's, biases and potentially distorted understandings? Editor: That’s a very helpful question to keep in mind, yes. I was wondering about the composition itself, with the stark contrast of light and shadow and the cramped interior space. Curator: Precisely. Notice how the artist positions the figures – their gazes, their postures. Are they active participants or passive observers? Also, let’s consider the choice of woodcut. As a readily reproducible medium, prints like these circulated widely, potentially shaping and solidifying existing colonial attitudes about Inuit communities and influencing racial theories of the time. Can we disentangle documentation from possible misrepresentation? Editor: That's a lot to think about! So, the artist's intentions and the context it was produced in play a big part in understanding what this means, beyond the surface depiction. I hadn't considered that. Curator: Absolutely! It's about understanding the complex web of power dynamics, representation, and historical narratives interwoven within a seemingly simple scene. Art holds layers of meaning beyond what immediately meets the eye.