En sømand 1880s

Adolph Kittendorff created this print, "En sømand," in Denmark in the 19th century. Its subject is a sailor who brings word of a death, likely of someone lost at sea. Maritime power has always been central to the economic and political life of Denmark, but this came at a high price for sailors and their families. This image illustrates how the political economy of empire impacted the lives of ordinary people. We see the disruption and trauma that it brought to private life. Notice the way that the figure of the messenger dominates the composition. The family huddles in the corner, as if overwhelmed by his presence. We can imagine that prints like this were popular among a middle-class audience who would have been able to recognize themselves as beneficiaries of the maritime trade. To understand this print better, we might look at economic data about maritime trade. Also, the archives of sailors' unions could shed light on the social conditions of this profession.