Artwork

Den pantsatte Bondedreng, II akt, 8. scene

Den pantsatte Bondedreng, II akt, 8. scene, by Unknown, 1813
Den pantsatte Bondedreng, II akt, 8. scene, by Unknown, 1813

Den pantsatte Bondedreng, II akt, 8. scene is a photography by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1813 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Den pantsatte Bondedreng, II akt, 8.

About this work

Overview

Den pantsatte Bondedreng, II akt, 8. scene is an 1813 image attributed to the artist catalogued as 693_person. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography and is presented as a black‑and‑white photograph depicting a staged group of men in an interior setting.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows several male figures gathered in a dimly lit room. One individual, dressed in a white shirt and breeches, stands near a window and gestures with his hand, while the others, wearing wigs and elaborate costumes, hold hats or point outward. The arrangement suggests a theatrical or narrative moment, possibly referencing a scene from a play or a folk performance.

Technique & Style

The image employs chiaroscuro, a lighting technique that creates stark contrasts between illuminated areas and deep shadows. A single light source highlights one man's face from above, casting the surrounding figures into darkness and enhancing the dramatic atmosphere of the scene.

History & Provenance

Created in 1813, the work has remained within the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography. No further details on its acquisition or exhibition history are recorded in the available documentation.

Context

The early nineteenth‑century date places the image within a period when staged tableaux and photographic reproductions of theatrical scenes were popular in European visual culture. The use of costume and exaggerated gestures aligns with contemporary performance traditions that blended folk motifs with staged drama.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known