"Duellen i Aaret 1798" 1798

This small print, "The Duel in the Year 1798," was made in Denmark by an anonymous artist, and its focus on a duel in 1798 provides us with a snapshot of the anxieties of the late 18th century. The image depicts a scene of formal violence. The figures are frozen, and the stylized composition suggests a theatrical performance rather than a spontaneous conflict. This was a period marked by the rise of Romanticism, which often romanticized violence. In that sense, this work can be considered somewhat conservative. The presence of a woman raising her arms in distress highlights the gendered dimensions of honor and conflict in that era. To understand this image, it is important to research the social and political context of dueling in 18th-century Europe. Old newspapers, legal documents, and social commentaries can reveal the complex attitudes toward honor, violence, and social status that shaped this artwork.