Artwork

Slædefart i de bajerske bjerge

Slædefart i de bajerske bjerge, by Unknown, 1750
Slædefart i de bajerske bjerge, by Unknown, 1750

Slædefart i de bajerske bjerge is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

“Slædefart i de bajerske bjerge,” attributed to the anonymous artist listed as 303_person, dates to around 1750 and is part of the Museum of Ethnography’s collection. The image presents a winter landscape in the Bavarian mountains, rendered in monochrome, and captures a moment of everyday transport across snow‑covered terrain.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts a sled drawn by a team of horses, laden with firewood, accompanied by pedestrians and livestock moving along a narrow path. A solitary dog stands near the sled, suggesting the presence of human activity and the reliance on animal power for winter travel in a rural Alpine community.

Technique & Style

Rendered in black‑and‑white, the work relies on strong contrasts of light and shadow to model forms and convey atmosphere. The chiaroscuro effect emphasizes the soft illumination of the sky against the darker silhouettes of the hills, creating a quiet, contemplative mood that underscores the harsh yet orderly winter environment.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1750, the image entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it has been catalogued as a visual record of historic Alpine life. Its attribution to 303_person reflects the limited archival information available for many early ethnographic visual sources.

Context

The depiction aligns with 18th‑century ethnographic interests in documenting everyday practices of mountain communities. By focusing on transport, labor, and the interaction between humans and animals, the work contributes to a broader understanding of how Alpine societies adapted to seasonal challenges and maintained subsistence economies.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known