Ræven 1845

Curator: I am immediately drawn to the intimacy of the scene; the flurry of activity around the den evokes a strong sense of maternal energy and familial bonds. Editor: Indeed. Let's delve into Adolph Kittendorff's 1845 lithograph and drawing, "Ræven," housed here at the SMK. The composition, created with ink, emphasizes a central narrative about social structures. Curator: The fox, symbolically, has a layered reputation. We see, depending on the culture, trickery, but also cleverness, adaptation, and, in some Indigenous cultures, it's a symbol of wisdom. Seeing this image with the cubs adds another layer, one of domesticity and nurturing that can be unexpected. Editor: Absolutely. Within 19th-century European contexts, portrayals of animals began shifting. Here, Kittendorff portrays the animal in the middle class environment rather than the wild one as a metaphor for Danish society. Think about artistic circles in Copenhagen around that time! It brings a commentary on both national identity and family values that was promoted in the cities.. Curator: And I appreciate the technique here, especially the line work capturing their fur textures and movement. It balances detailed realism with almost playful sketchiness, drawing me into the world that the mother fox has made. I find that combination rather affecting. Editor: The printmaking tradition itself plays a role. As an accessible medium, it allows for a wide distribution. These images influence how people perceive and understand their place within their country and nature, shaping cultural values on a broader societal level. It normalizes nature for those city dwellers. Curator: It's fascinating how a seemingly simple depiction can unpack so much, right? The symbolic fox blends so intriguingly in everyday life, offering glimpses of an idealized national existence where strength meets domesticity. Editor: Indeed. Reflecting on this work now, the cultural values transmitted through familiar animals reveal deeper social desires and anxieties that still resonate to this day.