Skaden og grisen 1845

Adolph Kittendorff created this small print titled "Skaden og grisen," or "The Magpie and the Pig," using etching. Kittendorff lived during a time of significant social change in Denmark, including the transition from an agrarian society to an industrialized nation. While the pig and the magpie take center stage, signs of human life appear in the background: the simple architecture, a cross, and a figure tending to something or someone. In the 19th century, there was a growing interest in portraying everyday life and rural settings, perhaps as a way to reflect on simpler times. Kittendorff’s intimate portrayal invites us to consider the lives of animals and the rural settings they inhabit. The etching captures a sense of place and prompts us to reflect on our relationship with nature and the simple rhythms of country life. It's a scene that feels both familiar and distant, reminding us of a way of life that is slowly fading away.