Abrahams offer 1918 - 1921

Joakim Skovgaard made this drawing called 'Abrahams offer' with pen and ink. The biblical scene shows Abraham about to sacrifice his son Isaac, stopped by an angel. Skovgaard was a Danish artist working at a time of intense national self-reflection. Religious art in 19th-century Denmark played a public role in defining national identity and moral values, often displayed in churches and other public institutions. Skovgaard’s work often reflected on themes of faith, duty, and sacrifice, ideas deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of the time. The visual codes – the angel, the bound figure of Isaac, the sacrificial fire – would have resonated with a society steeped in biblical teachings. To fully appreciate Skovgaard’s work, we can delve into the theological debates of his time, and the institutional history of the Danish church. Such research reveals how artists like Skovgaard engaged with, reinforced, or challenged the prevailing social norms through their art.