Facade af den kongelige priviligerede postgaard 1765

This is Johan Samuel Lymann’s etching of the facade of the Royal Privileged Post Office, made in Copenhagen in 1765. The image presents a symmetrical, ordered façade, reflecting the values of the Enlightenment era. The building, with its clear lines and classical ornamentation, embodies the rational ideals of the time. But it's not just about aesthetics; the Post Office itself was a crucial institution. It centralized communication and trade networks, and this building physically represents the reach and authority of the state. The depiction of the Royal Privileged Post Office reveals how power was visualized and communicated to the public. To fully understand this image, we need to look into the archives of the postal service, architectural plans, and even the social writings of the time. Art like this becomes a window into understanding Denmark's evolving relationship with governance, commerce, and the public sphere.