Birgitte Elisabeth Andersen 1826

Erling Eckersberg made this engraving of Birgitte Elisabeth Andersen in Denmark in the first half of the 19th century. Andersen was an actress at the Royal Danish Theatre, an institution that played a key role in shaping Danish national identity through the performance of plays and operas in the Danish language. The image of Andersen is interesting because it provides us with visual clues to the social standing and cultural values of the time. Her elegant dress and carefully arranged hair reflect the fashion of the Biedermeier period. This was a time of relative peace and prosperity in Denmark, when the middle class was growing and new cultural institutions were emerging. As art historians, we might look at theatre records and playbills to understand how Andersen and the Royal Danish Theatre contributed to the cultural life of Copenhagen. By understanding its social and institutional context, we can better understand its meaning and significance.