En stående kvinde, set bagfra 1810 - 1848

Christen Købke made this pencil drawing of a standing woman, seen from behind, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. It is now part of the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark. The drawing's power lies in its subtle social commentary, which is created by the cultural context in which it was made. Denmark in the early 1800s was still a highly stratified society, and clothing clearly signaled social status. The woman’s simple dress and posture suggest she is a member of the working class. But instead of portraying her as a romanticized figure, as was the trend at the time, Købke presents her in a quiet, dignified manner. He challenges the art institution's traditional preference for idealized or heroic figures by focusing on the everyday lives of ordinary people. To fully understand this drawing, historians consult a variety of resources, including social histories and fashion archives. It is through this kind of research that we gain insights into the complex interplay between art, society, and institutional values.