Barneportrett 1856

Adolph Tidemand sketched this child portrait in pencil sometime in the mid-19th century. But what could such an intimate drawing mean in the context of Norwegian art institutions at that time? Tidemand was a key figure in the rise of Romantic Nationalism, which idealized rural life and distinct national identities. He often depicted peasants in detailed oil paintings, but this drawing offers a different perspective. It’s a glimpse into the artist’s process, a private moment before the grand statements of his finished works. The sketch also resonates with the growing interest in childhood and domesticity that was prevalent in Biedermeier culture. To fully understand this work, one must delve into the art market of the era. Who commissioned such portraits? How did they circulate? Archival research into patronage and collecting habits, as well as studies of the emerging middle class, can help us unlock the social meanings embedded in this seemingly simple sketch.