En stendysse på Brandsø 1842

Dankvart Dreyer made this pencil drawing of a stone dolmen on the island of Brandsø, but its exact date remains unknown. It is held at the SMK, the Danish National Gallery. Think of this image in the context of its time. Denmark in the 19th century saw a surge of interest in its pre-Christian past. Ancient monuments like this one became powerful symbols of national identity, connecting the people of Denmark to a heroic and mythical past. The light, airy sketch style could be seen as Dreyer's way of engaging with the picturesque romanticism that was dominant in landscape art at the time. But it also reflects a more scientific interest in Denmark’s ancient monuments, similar to the kind of archaeological surveys that were becoming increasingly common. When we interpret art, especially art that speaks to history and identity, we need to look at the historical record. We can use archaeological reports, national archives, and literary sources. This enriches our understanding of the artwork and the culture that produced it.