Bispegården i Købehavn 1891 - 1895

Josepha Martensen made this etching of Bispegården in Copenhagen at an unknown date. This tranquil scene offers us a glimpse into the architecture of Copenhagen and the everyday life within its walls. Martensen, born in 1852, would have been working at a time when printmaking was becoming more accessible, yet still valued for its artistic merit. The etching process allowed for detailed and reproducible images, playing a crucial role in disseminating visual information and artistic styles. Here, the attention to architectural detail and atmospheric light suggests an interest in realism, aligning with broader artistic trends in Europe at the time. To truly understand this work, we can look into the social conditions of late 19th-century Copenhagen, a period of urbanization and changing social structures. What was the role of women artists in this era? How did the art institutions of Denmark shape artistic production? These are the sorts of questions that social art historians ask.