Gate I Krageroe 

Theodor Severin Kittelsen made this black and white drawing, titled 'Gate I Krageroe,' sometime in the late 19th century. Kittelsen, a Norwegian artist, lived through a period of immense social change as Norway navigated its identity and relationship with its neighbors. The artwork offers a glimpse into the everyday life of a small town. The figures in the foreground, a pair of men, and a woman dressed in what appears to be a nun’s habit, are presented in a manner that feels both familiar and distant. They are ordinary people, yet their clothes indicate distinct roles within this community. The women are dressed in servant clothes and are bent over what appear to be domestic duties. The drawing uses a realist style which was prevalent in the 19th century, to depict life as it was seen. But the composition also has an emotional resonance: the uphill road, the turn in the path, and the distant figures all create a sense of journey, and perhaps even the unknown. This invites us to reflect on our own place within society's larger picture.