Aften ved Vejle Fjord 1849 - 1909

Louise Ravn-Hansen made this etching of Vejle Fjord in Denmark sometime in the late 19th century. Ravn-Hansen was part of a generation of women artists who benefited from the gradual opening up of art academies to women. This image presents a tranquil scene, capturing the stillness of the water and the soft light of dusk. Denmark at this time experienced significant social and economic changes, moving from an agrarian society towards industrialization. Ravn-Hansen's choice of landscape as a subject reflects a broader artistic interest in national identity and the natural world, at a time when those things were perceived to be under threat. Ravn-Hansen probably made this artwork to be exhibited in one of the many art societies or institutions, whose records and archives can give us insight into her world as a woman artist. Her work may have been understood as either progressive or conservative depending on her audience. The value of art resides in its social life!