Skader 1810 - 1848

Christen Købke made this pencil drawing called "Skader" in Denmark sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Købke’s detailed rendering of the magpies connects to a broader cultural interest in natural history during the period. Across Europe and especially in the Nordic countries, there was a growing sense of national identity linked to the unique flora and fauna of the region. Scientific illustration played an important role here, and artists were sometimes commissioned by museums or even private collectors, to document specimens of local wildlife. Seen from this perspective, Købke’s drawing can be understood as part of a larger cultural project aimed at defining and celebrating Danish identity through its natural environment. To better understand the drawing’s function we can look into the institutional history of the time, considering scientific journals, travelogues, and other visual representations of Nordic wildlife.