Antik frise 1803

Gerhard Ludvig Lahde created this line drawing of an antique frieze. Lahde, who lived from 1765 to 1833, was working during a period of renewed interest in classical antiquity. The figures in the frieze, rendered in delicate lines, evoke a sense of idealized beauty and harmony, reminiscent of ancient Greek and Roman art. But, this was also a period of colonialism, in which the Western world plundered other cultures. How does our contemporary understanding of cultural appropriation and power dynamics inform our view of such works? This drawing is a reminder of the complex relationship between art, history, and the ever-evolving values of society. It encourages us to reflect on the stories we tell about the past and how they shape our present.