Schapen bij een hunebed 1838

Johan Thomas Lundbye created this etching, "Sheep at a Dolmen," during Denmark’s Golden Age. The dolmen, a stone tomb, stands as a silent witness to centuries past, while the sheep represent the pastoral present. Lundbye, deeply invested in Danish nationalism, often depicted the country's landscape to evoke a sense of national identity and pride. Here, the dolmen, a relic of ancient inhabitants, becomes a symbol of Danish history, suggesting a continuous, unbroken connection to the land. The sheep, peacefully grazing, embody a romantic vision of rural life, untouched by industrialization and social change. There’s a palpable tension between the weight of history and the lightness of the present, between the solemnity of the tomb and the vitality of the animals. In a time of shifting national and cultural identities, Lundbye’s etching offers a serene, idealized vision of Denmark, rooted in its ancient past and thriving in its pastoral present.