Artwork
En forstyrret middagssøvn
En forstyrret middagssøvn is a photography by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
En forstyrret middagssøvn (A Disturbed Midday Nap) is a black-and-white photograph from 1870 by 258_person, currently part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a disordered domestic scene. A weary woman slumps in a chair amidst scattered shoes, untidy clothes, and an unused, antiquated spinning wheel. The intrusion of two ducks foraging on the floor and a stiff, cane-bearing man in the background adds to the sense of disruption, capturing a moment of everyday life interrupted.
Technique & Style
Shot in black-and-white, the photograph employs realism to convey a sense of neglect and stillness, emphasized by the dusty, unused spinning wheel. The composition balances human subjects with unexpected animal presence, creating a poignant, quiet atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created in 1870 by 258_person, the photograph is now housed at the Museum of Ethnography, though the specifics of its acquisition and earlier ownership are not detailed here.
Context
Emerging in the late 19th century, this work aligns with the Realist movement's focus on depicting everyday, often mundane or less glamorous aspects of life, offering a glimpse into the interior life of ordinary individuals during that period.
Legacy
As part of the Realist photographic tradition, 'En forstyrret middagssøvn' contributes to the broader legacy of capturing unvarnished everyday scenes, influencing subsequent documentary and realist photography practices.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
