Prøvetryk til Chr. Winthers A.B.C. 1863

Curator: What a charming scene. This is a trial proof for Christian Winther’s ABC book from 1863, crafted by H.P. Hansen. The technique employed here is etching, showcasing a winter landscape teeming with figures enjoying a day on the ice. Editor: It immediately gives me a sense of joyful domesticity, of a tightly knit community thriving despite the cold. There’s a real gendered element to the imagery too: the active man pushing a sled carrying what looks like a comfortably seated woman, juxtaposed with the free play of the other skaters. Curator: Exactly. Contextually, we should note that this period in Denmark saw rising nationalism and interest in folklore and traditional life. An ABC book such as Winther's would have served as not just a literacy tool but also a carrier of cultural values. Look closely at the other skaters; you can almost hear their laughter carried by the sharp winter wind! Editor: It's tempting to see the seated woman as representative of domestic confinement. Consider how much space is taken up by the male figure in action versus her more static role. In feminist terms, the imagery could be viewed as a reflection of restricted societal roles for women, even in leisure. It evokes so many different emotions and meanings, from nostalgia and the joy of childhood to deeper questions about power dynamics within familial spaces. Curator: I appreciate you pointing that out; you’re encouraging us to really read what’s in the image and what societal mores might also be there. This specific etching as a preliminary print also provides insights into the process of 19th-century book illustration and its reliance on visual language to convey both moral lessons and national identity. Editor: Looking at this now, my initial simplistic impression melts to give way to something so much more multi-layered. The role of the family unit in propagating the ideals of nationhood feels quite palpable. Curator: Indeed, it invites us to delve into the multi-faceted nature of seemingly simple genre scenes and consider how art and culture interweave to shape identity, gender and cultural memory. Editor: I'll definitely carry a more nuanced lens as I move through the rest of the exhibition.