Kongemordet i Finderup Lade 1829 - 1899

H.P. Hansen made this small but intense engraving, Kongemordet i Finderup Lade, using a burin to incise lines into a copper plate. Look closely, and you can see how each mark carefully defines light and shadow, creating a dramatic scene of violence. But the image’s material construction is also significant. Hansen worked within a well-established tradition of printmaking, which allowed for the wide distribution of images. Engravings like this one democratized art, making it accessible to a broader audience beyond the elite. The intense labor involved in engraving – the time spent cutting each line – speaks to a commitment to craft and skill. Yet, the reproductive nature of the medium also aligns with the emerging industrial age, hinting at the complex relationship between art, labor, and consumption. So, when we look at this print, we're not just seeing a depiction of a historical event; we're also seeing a reflection of the changing social and economic landscape of 19th-century Denmark.