C. F. Rosenhoff 1842

Edvard Lehmann made this lithograph of C. F. Rosenhoff in Denmark, probably sometime in the mid-19th century. Lehmann was known for his portraits of Danish cultural figures, and this image speaks to the importance of portraiture in constructing national identity. Notice the way Rosenhoff is depicted: his confident pose, fashionable attire, and the inscription below his name, all contribute to an image of a respectable and cultured man. How does this image work to create a sense of Danish national identity? The answer lies in the institutions that supported artistic production at the time. Artists like Lehmann relied on commissions from wealthy patrons and the support of institutions like the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. These institutions helped to shape artistic tastes and promoted certain ideals about Danish culture. To fully understand this lithograph, we can look into the archives of the Royal Academy or study the biographies of Lehmann and Rosenhoff. This gives a richer understanding of the social and institutional context in which the artwork was made.