Kvinde med krukke på skulderen 1810 - 1873

Wilhelm Marstrand made this drawing, titled "Woman with a jar on her shoulder," using graphite. Marstrand was working in 19th-century Denmark when artists were looking to the past for inspiration and to legitimize their national identity, often influenced by antique art and culture. This drawing encapsulates that sentiment. Though the woman is carrying a jar, a task associated with labor, her classical garments elevate her status to that of a figure in an ancient fresco, as do her bare feet. By ennobling everyday life in this way, Marstrand affirms the value of his own nation and its people. These visual codes are by no means neutral. By researching archives, travelogues, and literature from the period, we can discover how and why Marstrand connects Denmark to the grandeur of the ancient world, and what role art institutions played in shaping his vision.