Italiensk appelsinsælger og den kritiske kunde 1840s

Wilhelm Marstrand made this drawing, "Italiensk appelsinsælger og den kritiske kunde" whose date is unknown, using pen and brown ink. This work allows us to reflect on the dynamics of class and cultural exchange in 19th-century Europe. Marstrand, who lived from 1810 to 1873, was a prominent figure in the Danish Golden Age, a period marked by national romanticism and burgeoning middle-class identity. Here, a well-dressed man examines oranges through a lorgnette, while a young Italian vendor looks on, his expression a mix of anticipation and perhaps, apprehension. What is the nature of the exchange between them? Is it purely transactional, or does it reflect the power dynamics between the tourist and the local, the wealthy and the working class? This drawing challenges us to consider the perspectives of both figures, reflecting on the historical context of travel, trade, and the negotiation of cultural identities.