Et uheld på skomagerfamiliens skovtur 1810 - 1873

Wilhelm Marstrand made this drawing, "An Accident on the Shoemaker Family’s Picnic," sometime in the 19th century. Marstrand was a product of Denmark's Royal Academy, which promoted a conservative style focused on historical and mythological subjects. Here, though, he offers a genre scene of contemporary life. Look closely, and you'll see the "accident" of the title: a small child has spilled something on their parent’s shoe! This slice-of-life approach reflected a broader shift in European art towards Realism, a progressive movement that challenged the Academy's dominance by portraying everyday subjects and ordinary people. Artists like Marstrand pushed the boundaries of what was considered worthy of artistic representation, questioning established social hierarchies. To fully understand this drawing, we can research the social and economic conditions of 19th-century Denmark, including the rise of the middle class and changing attitudes toward family life. By examining these contextual factors, we can appreciate how Marstrand's art reflects and comments on the society in which it was created.