Cirkelrund Vignet med flyvende Engel 1847 - 1877

This circular vignette with a flying angel was created by F. Hendriksen, who lived from 1847 to 1938. Consider the Victorian era, when Hendriksen was active, an era marked by strict social codes, but also, artistic exploration. Angels, like the one depicted here, were a common symbol in art, often representing purity or divine intervention. But here, the angel is seen from the back, pushing open a window, disrupting the traditional, passive representation. The gaze is directed outward, towards a crowd of onlookers, evoking questions of access and spectatorship. Who is allowed to look, and who is being looked at? How does the angel challenge the idea of the passive, angelic figure? The artist uses this imagery to play with themes of freedom, voyeurism, and the breaking of social barriers. It is fascinating how Hendriksen uses a seemingly conventional subject, the angel, to disrupt traditional narratives.