Kornet køres hjem 1810 - 1873

"Kornet køres hjem," or "Bringing Home the Grain," is a sketch by Wilhelm Marstrand, rendered in pencil. Marstrand, who lived from 1810 to 1873, was working within a period of significant national romanticism in Denmark, yet he also studied classical art in Rome. In this sketch, we see a loaded wagon drawn by horses, carrying what appears to be the harvest. The laborers are faceless, almost generic, which speaks to the idealization of rural life and labor during this time. This image reflects the values of the time, in which the peasantry was seen as the heart of the nation. Marstrand's choice to portray this scene with such simplicity, devoid of individualization, raises questions about representation and the romanticized view of labor. The sketch carries a quiet dignity, reflective of the time, but also prompts us to think about how labor and identity are represented and often homogenized in art.