Changing of the Guard
1888
Erik Henningsen captures a lively street scene where a military band marches past, their shiny brass instruments gleaming against dark uniforms. In the foreground, a young boy carrying a heavy basket of vegetables pauses to watch in awe, a blue cup in his hand, while a smaller child in a cozy hood clutches an adult's hand. The painting is a brilliant example of 19th-century Realism, focusing on everyday life rather than grand historical events. It beautifully contrasts the formal, rigid march of the soldiers with the spontaneous, curious reactions of the common townsfolk.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Oil paint, canvas
Location: National Gallery of Denmark (SMK), Copenhagen