Hammershus på Bornholm 1849

Vilhelm Kyhn made this print of Hammershus on Bornholm sometime in the 19th century. Kyhn's romantic nationalism, a common theme amongst artists of the time, is on full display here. The image presents Hammershus, a castle with a fraught history of conflict and power struggles, in a state of disrepair. Prints like this one played a key role in shaping public perceptions and were a popular way for artists to disseminate their work. They were often commissioned by institutions or individuals seeking to promote particular ideas. The detailed rendering of the castle ruins, set against the backdrop of the Bornholm landscape, evokes a sense of national pride and historical awareness. To truly understand this work, we might delve into 19th-century Danish history, exploring the rise of national romanticism and the role of institutions like the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. This will help us interpret how the artist and the state contributed to shaping a sense of collective identity.