Kongelig herold 1807

Johannes Senn created this watercolor image of a royal herald on paper. Senn, who was Swiss, spent much of his career in Denmark, producing many images of the Danish royal family and its accoutrements. The image is skillfully rendered, of course. But it is also fascinating as a record of textile production. Just think of the amount of labor embedded in the herald’s eye-catching uniform. The wool would have to be spun, woven, dyed, and tailored. And then there is the gold trim, likely employing yet another set of skilled workers. Even the black leather boots involved specialized work to produce. The herald himself is literally weighed down by the material culture of the state, and the same can be said of the horse, which carries the weight of the rider and tack combined. Senn’s image reminds us that even seemingly simple artworks can provide insight into the social and material conditions of their making.