Artwork

Waiting for the Train. Level Crossing by Roskilde Highway

Waiting for the Train. Level Crossing by Roskilde Highway, by Unknown, 1914
Waiting for the Train. Level Crossing by Roskilde Highway, by Unknown, 1914

Waiting for the Train. Level Crossing by Roskilde Highway is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1914 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Waiting for the Train.

About this work

Overview

Waiting for the Train. Level Crossing by Roskilde Highway is a 1914 black-and-white photograph by 1049_person, currently housed at the Museum of Ethnography.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a serene moment of a man in work attire standing on a wooden bridge over train tracks, awaiting a train that is not immediately forthcoming.

The image captures a serene moment of a man in work attire standing on a wooden bridge over train tracks, awaiting a train that is not immediately forthcoming. His relaxed posture against the railing implies a familiar routine. The scene contrasts the solitude of the waiting figure with the backdrop of a small, red-brick town and the presence of a few other individuals near the tracks, under an overcast sky.

Technique & Style

Composed in black and white, the photograph emphasizes the starkness of a cold day. The focus on a quiet, everyday moment suggests a documentary or realistic approach, highlighting the mundane aspects of daily life.

History & Provenance

Created in 1914 by 1049_person, the photograph is part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography, indicating its value in documenting societal or everyday life aspects of its time.

Context

The early 20th-century setting, as depicted by the bare trees and traditional red-brick architecture, provides a glimpse into the rural or suburban lifestyle of the period, possibly in or near Roskilde, given the highway reference.

Legacy

As a piece in a museum of ethnography, the photograph's legacy lies in its contribution to the historical record of daily life and possibly the evolution of transportation hubs in smaller communities.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known