Studier af får 1891 - 1894

Joakim Skovgaard made this sketch, ‘Studier af får’, or ‘Studies of Sheep’, with pencil on paper. Skovgaard lived through a period of great social change in Denmark, witnessing the rise of industrialization and urbanization. At the time the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts promoted a National Romantic style. Artists were encouraged to celebrate the Danish landscape and rural life. Such images were seen as essential to forming a national identity. This sketch depicts sheep grazing peacefully. The naturalistic style and focus on the everyday reflects this artistic trend. It suggests an idealized view of rural life, untouched by the modern world. To understand the work better, we can research the art institutions that influenced Skovgaard. We could also investigate the broader cultural context of Denmark in the late 19th century. It is through understanding the social context that we can better grasp the meaning and significance of art.