Natives of New Herrnhut, Greenland 1863

Lars Møller, a Greenlander, made this print of the Natives of New Herrnhut in Greenland sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The image offers a glimpse into a specific community shaped by a unique blend of indigenous traditions and European influences. Here, we see the local population alongside European-style buildings, reflecting the impact of missionary settlements in Greenland. The artist's choice to depict this settlement raises questions about cultural exchange, colonialism, and the representation of indigenous peoples. Was Møller celebrating cross-cultural exchange or critiquing the impact of European culture? To fully understand this image, one could research the history of the Moravian missions in Greenland, the social and economic conditions of the local population, and the artist's own background and motivations. This print reminds us that the meaning of art is often found in its complex relationship to the social and institutional contexts in which it was created and viewed.