Figurrids af siddende mand, kvinde og barn, til højre herfor et siddende barn set bagfra 1834

This drawing of a seated family was made by Christen Købke in the first half of the 19th century in Denmark. Köbke lived during the Danish Golden Age, a time of national romanticism when Danish identity was being formed and celebrated in art. The simple, domestic scene is a study in intimacy and social roles, reflecting the values of the Biedermeier era. This was a period when the middle class focused on home life. Gender roles were clearly defined, and children were seen as symbols of innocence and domestic continuity. The careful arrangement of the figures, with the father and mother central, and the children as extensions of their parents, speaks to the hierarchical structure of the family. There is an emotional quietude in this drawing that draws us into the private world of the family. It offers a glimpse into the intimate and personal lives of people, and the importance of familial bonds.