Ludvig Carl Gustav Jacobsen
(Danish, 1890-1957)

"The Maternity Visitation, Scene from Ludvig Holberg's (1684-1754) Comedy 'Barselstuen'"

oil on canvas
signed lower right, titled "Barselstuen" and with "A. Matritzen, Forgylder" label en verso.
Antique frame.
20" x 31-1/4", framed 28-3/4" x 39-1/2"

Notes: A cartoonist at the Danish newspaper Dags Pressen, Ludvig Jacobsen also worked as a book and newspaper illustrator. Jacobsen enjoyed the theater and became well-known for his paintings of scenes from plays by Moliere and Holberg.

A classic comedy by Holberg, "Barselstuen" centers on Corfitz who is close to 70 years old and his young bride, who is bedridden since giving birth. Corfitz suspects his young bride to be unfaithful to him and that he is not the father of the baby. The comedy makes fun of the time when maternity visitations were commonplace, and the young mother must endure visits by the gossipy local women. Corfitz hides by the bed hoping to overhear gossip about his bride's possible infidelity.