Billede 5 1838

Lorenz Frølich created this etching, Billede 5, sometime in the 19th century. It depicts a tense domestic scene: a large dog biting a man’s arm, while another man appears in the background brandishing a sword. Frølich was Danish, and we can think about this image within the context of the art institutions of his time. He was trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, which promoted a conservative national romanticism, drawing heavily from Norse mythology. But his long career also saw the rise of more socially conscious art movements. The image evokes a world of conflict and danger, and perhaps some kind of injustice. The dog is acting as a protector or defender. The man with the sword could be interpreted as either a threat or a savior. Further research into Frølich’s political views, and the social conditions in Denmark at the time, might reveal a clearer picture of the image’s meaning.