Vinterlandskab. Motiv fra Jægersborg Dyrehave 1885

Curator: We are looking at "Winter Landscape. Motif from Jægersborg Dyrehave" by Frederik Rohde, painted in 1885. It's a canvas piece depicting a snowy scene in a deer park. Editor: My first impression is the stillness. It’s a very hushed and quiet landscape, muted tones creating a somber mood. You can almost feel the cold. Curator: Indeed. Rohde, influenced by the plein-air movement, was likely painting directly en plain air, braving the elements to capture the light and atmosphere of the Danish winter. These works gain popularity amid growing concerns of urban overpopulation pushing for appreciation of natural landscapes. Editor: You can really see it in the rendering of the snow, that granular texture achieved through layers of paint. It suggests a real physicality to the landscape and probably took some physical effort. The way that earthy materials translate to capturing icy landscape details feels poetic to me. Curator: It speaks to the Romanticism as well. There’s this undercurrent of sublime appreciation for the stark beauty but it also has political implications during his time. Editor: And there’s that very subtle, almost imperceptible wagon in the distance. Who are they? And where are they going, dragged through the thick snow? Curator: Possibly estate workers or even transporting goods through difficult conditions? The setting places us in the orbit of royal hunting grounds, also signaling the relationship between land and power. Editor: It also makes you think about what it would be like, as someone with material means, going out and watching these laborers work through what nature imposes. It makes it about the consumption of their labor. Curator: Perhaps Rohde aims to romanticize the labor—it would suit his era and the audiences he catered to. Even then, this work represents a key period when artists moved outside, away from established norms, which is why they continue to influence us today. Editor: I agree. And for me, understanding the making of it makes it more significant and interesting. Considering the labor both within and behind it gives me a fuller view of this wintry scene.