Gade i Jægersborg 1882 - 1883

Louise Ravn-Hansen made this etching of a street in Jægersborg, Denmark, sometime in the late 19th century. It shows a lane between simple buildings, with a figure walking away from us. The image evokes the cultural values of the time, particularly a romanticized view of rural life. Note the chickens in the foreground and the way the architecture blends with the natural setting, offering a quaint view of Danish society. As an etching made for public consumption, this work reflects the institutional role of art in shaping cultural identity. To understand this piece more fully, we might look at its exhibition history, or compare it to other images of Jægersborg from the period. Such research helps us consider how art participates in the ongoing construction of a nation's self-image.