Hvilende islandsk lasthest 1904

Agnes Lunn created this bronze sculpture of a resting Icelandic packhorse, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Lunn made a career of animal sculpture and her Hvilende islandsk lasthest offers a sympathetic depiction of rural labor. We see the small but sturdy Icelandic horse, burdened with a pack, taking a well-deserved rest. Consider how Iceland's unique geography and economy, largely agricultural, shaped the social role of these animals. Were they seen as partners, beasts of burden, or something in between? Lunn lived at a time when the traditional art academy was being challenged, yet institutions like the Statens Museum for Kunst continued to shape artistic taste. Animal sculpture was a popular genre, but also one often relegated to the decorative arts. This is the tension that Lunn navigates in her art. Historians consult sources like exhibition reviews, artists’ letters, and economic data to understand the cultural work an artwork performs. By examining Hvilende islandsk lasthest in its social context, we can appreciate how Lunn both reflected and commented on the values of her time.