Fredensborg slot 1895

Axel Holm created this print of Fredensborg Slot in Denmark at the turn of the 20th century. The image presents a view of the palace from across a manicured lawn. Palaces like Fredensborg were at the center of aristocratic society in Europe. They were not only residences, but places of government, centers of cultural life, and the sites of important social rituals. Looking at the visual codes of the image, the palace looms large, and the immaculate lawn emphasizes control and order. Holm's print invites us to consider how such imagery reinforces the power of ruling elites. The print is also itself a commodity, designed to be sold and collected, extending the reach of Fredensborg's symbolic power into the middle class home. To fully understand such images, we need to research the history of Fredensborg, the role of the Danish monarchy, and the changing social functions of aristocratic life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.