This essay has analyzed Carl Peter Lehmann’s 1832 portrait of the Borgström family. The aim was to examine how clothing, setting, and objects were used to reflect the ideals and social norms of the 19th century in Lehmann’s portrait of the family. 

Carl Peter Lehmann was a Danish artist active in Northern Europe during the first half of the 19th century. He spent most of his life traveling, working primarily as a portrait painter on commission. His movements can be traced through newspaper advertisements in local publications, where he announced when and where he would be working in different cities. During the summer of 1832, Lehmann stayed in Karlstad, where he lived with and painted the Borgström family. Ludvig Borgström, was an important figure in Karlstad at the time and was the proprietor of the city’s pharmacy. The family portrait follows the conventions of the time, both in terms of appearance and gender roles. The way each family member is portrayed reflects the societal ideals of how they were expected to behave, which is also evident in their clothing. The connection to nature is a recurring theme in the painting, emphasized by the outdoor setting, the outer garments worn by the subjects, and the plants held by the children as symbolic attributes.