Illustration til J. H. Hansens Digt "Ved Hesteskuret" 1870 - 1874

This small illustration was made anonymously, accompanying J.H. Hansen's poem "At the Horse Shed," and is now held at the National Gallery of Denmark. It depicts a man standing next to a horse in front of a shed with chickens roaming nearby, capturing a seemingly ordinary rural scene. But what is the public role of this seemingly simple image? In the 19th century, Denmark underwent significant social and economic changes, moving from an agrarian society to a more industrialized one. Illustrations like this, often found in books and magazines, played a role in shaping cultural identity. They romanticized rural life, presenting an idealized view of the countryside at a time when many people were moving to cities for work. By focusing on the everyday lives of ordinary people, the image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. To better understand such an image, we can turn to sources from the period, such as newspapers, journals, and personal letters, which can reveal the social values and cultural norms that shaped its creation and reception.