Fra Eremitagesletten. 1847

P.C. Skovgaard made this landscape drawing called 'Fra Eremitagesletten' using pencil and paper. This tranquil scene of the Hermitage Plain in Denmark speaks volumes about the evolving relationship between humans and nature in the mid-19th century. At this time, Denmark was undergoing significant social and economic changes, and the focus was on national identity. The landscape became a symbol of cultural values and a shared heritage. Skovgaard was a key figure in the Danish Golden Age, an era when artists consciously turned to the local landscape as a source of inspiration and national pride. The Hermitage Plain itself, with its royal hunting lodge, was a site of royal power and leisure. In Skovgaard’s image, the land opens up to the viewer and the artist subtly invites us to reflect on the social and political meaning behind the image. To fully appreciate Skovgaard's art, we can look into archives and literature of the time, to better understand the dynamic interaction between landscape, society, and national identity.