Sanderumgaards have V 1800

J.F. Clemens made this drawing, Sanderumgaards have V, using pen and ink. It presents an idyllic scene, typical of the late 18th century. The image is structured around a winding river, a resting rowboat, and lush vegetation, elements that evoke the contemporary aesthetic of the picturesque. Made in Denmark, the drawing reflects the period’s interest in landscape as a controlled, cultivated space, not as wilderness. It also speaks to the economic structures that supported such leisure; Clemens, who served as a court painter, produced this work for a privileged class, who had the time and resources to enjoy the landscape. Interpreting this work today requires us to consider the social conditions of its production. Estate records, travel journals, and other archival materials can tell us more about how gardens like Sanderumgaard functioned as status symbols and sites of social display. This allows us to appreciate the drawing not just as a depiction of a place, but as a document of cultural values.