Artwork

Collegium Politicum. From Ludvig Holberg’s The Political Tinker, Act I, Scene 2.

Collegium Politicum. From Ludvig Holberg’s The Political Tinker, Act I, Scene 2. is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Collegium Politicum, taken from Act I, Scene 2 of Ludvig Holberg’s comedy The Political Tinker, is an image dating to around 1850.

About this work

Overview

Collegium Politicum, taken from Act I, Scene 2 of Ludvig Holberg’s comedy The Political Tinker, is an image dating to around 1850. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography and depicts a staged interior that references the play’s satirical treatment of public debate.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows a densely packed chamber in which a group of figures congregates around a table. A man in a vivid red coat gestures toward an empty wall, suggesting a mock‑serious lecture about something that does not exist, thereby underscoring the farcical nature of the political discourse being lampooned.

Technique & Style

The image employs strong contrasts of light and shadow, a chiaroscuro effect that heightens the sense of tension within the dimly lit space. Darkened walls and limited illumination focus attention on the central figures, while the period costume details convey a nineteenth‑century aesthetic.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1850, the work was later acquired by the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to an era when visual representations of theatrical scenes were used to document and critique contemporary social issues.

Context

Holberg’s play, first performed in the early eighteenth century, satirized the pretensions of political assemblies. This image, produced over a century later, reflects the continued relevance of the play’s commentary on the performative aspects of governance and public persuasion.