Den gerrige 1860 - 1864

This is "The Miser" by Edvard Sonne, made without a specified date. It depicts an elderly figure, hunched over a table in a cramped attic, meticulously counting money. The image is striking in its depiction of aging and isolation. The figure’s gnarled hands and deeply lined face tell a story of a life perhaps defined by scarcity and solitude. The setting, an attic, suggests a life lived on the margins, both physically and socially. What does it mean to accumulate wealth if it isolates you from the world? Sonne’s work reflects the societal anxieties around wealth, aging, and social isolation which were common during his time. He invites us to consider the emotional and psychological costs of a life driven by greed. How might our understanding of value shift if we prioritize community and compassion over material wealth?