Flodlandskab 1785

Frederik Ludvig Bradt made this landscape print in Denmark. The image presents a vision of nature that is both idyllic and tamed, a quality much admired by the middle classes of the late 18th century. Here, Bradt offers us a serene view of a Danish landscape. We see a body of water, likely a lake or a calm bay, framed by lush trees. In the background, a castle sits atop a hill, overlooking the scene. Two figures are sitting by the water's edge, perhaps enjoying the view. In the water, a boat filled with people suggests leisure and travel. The print was made during a time when Denmark was experiencing a period of relative peace and prosperity. Artists were patronized by the royal court. Prints like this one catered to a growing market for picturesque views of the Danish countryside. To understand Bradt's work more fully, one might delve into the aesthetic theories circulating at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Exploring such resources enables us to appreciate the social life of this image.