Greeks Working in the ruins of the Acropolis 1835

Martinus Rørbye painted "Greeks Working in the Ruins of the Acropolis" while in Athens. The city, then under Ottoman rule, was experiencing its first stirrings of independence. Rørbye, a Dane, positions us amidst the rubble of antiquity and the everyday labor of Greeks. He uses his palette to explore the intersection of labor, identity, and nationhood. Amidst the stones that carry the weight of history, local workers become active agents, carving out their own narrative. They are dressed in the garb of the Ottoman Empire, but also look toward a future of Greek autonomy. As you stand here, consider how the painting complicates any simple view of cultural identity, and instead asks us to consider the nuances of historical change and the personal dimensions of collective identity. It serves as a reminder that history is not just about grand narratives, but about the individuals who live through them.