"Troldmandens Laterna Magica" Nr. 2 1787

"Troldmandens Laterna Magica" Nr. 2 is a small print made by H.L.S. Winding, a Danish artist, around 1717. The print shows a wizard figure operating a 'Laterna Magica,' an early form of image projector, casting a ghostly scene. The artwork reflects the fascination with science and spectacle that was emerging in European culture at the time. The 'Laterna Magica' itself was a novel technology, used for entertainment, education, and even to stage illusions. The wizard in the print connects this new technology with older traditions of magic and illusion. It suggests a tension between enlightenment reason and more mystical ways of seeing the world. Was the artist being critical of science, suggesting that it was no more than illusion? Understanding this print requires us to research the history of science and popular entertainment in eighteenth-century Denmark. We need to explore how new technologies were received and interpreted by the public. Art like this becomes a window into the social and intellectual world of its time.