Sur la terre ferme 1863

Lorenz Frølich made this print, “Sur la terre ferme,” sometime in the 19th century. It depicts a scene of leisure at the beach. The composition sets up a contrast between the relative safety of the shore and the chaotic fun in the water. The title and caption point us to the perspective of the child, for whom the scene is a source of amusement. Yet the image also speaks to the growth of a middle class in Europe with the time and income to spend at leisure. Frølich was Danish, and during the 1800s, Denmark experienced significant social and economic changes, including the growth of cities, industrialization, and the rise of a middle class. These transformations influenced artistic production and consumption. To further understand this print, one might look to sources like newspapers, travel guides, or even medical advice of the time, to learn more about the social life of the beach and the complex relationship between health, leisure, and social class. Approaching this artwork with an eye to the social and institutional context of its creation can help us understand the values and attitudes of the time.