Hos pantelåneren 1893

Frants Henningsen made this painting, "At the Pawn Shop," with oil on canvas. The rough weave of the canvas is almost invisible, smoothed over with the artist's technique. Henningsen's skill allows him to convincingly capture the interior of this space, and the people within it. The clothing of the figures, too, is beautifully rendered. These were not randomly chosen garments. The artist is carefully showing us the material conditions of life for people in late 19th century Denmark. The dark, worn garments speak to the poverty of the people depicted. Notice the layers of clothing the customers are wearing and carrying; these precious items can be exchanged for money, if only temporarily. It's important to consider the social and economic context of the time, as Henningsen skillfully invites us to look closely at the real-life conditions of the working class. The painting prompts us to think critically about the relationship between labor, class, and consumption.