Svanhvide 1799 - 1802

Nicolai Abildgaard rendered this watercolor and pencil drawing entitled ‘Svanhvide’ sometime in the late 18th century. Abildgaard, a leading figure of the neoclassical movement in Denmark, was deeply engaged with themes of national identity and history. This piece presents a figure adorned in what appears to be traditional Nordic attire. The exoticism in the dress, while intended to evoke a sense of historical authenticity, reflects the artist’s interpretation of cultural identity. We might consider how costume, especially in the arts, can construct and mediate our understanding of gender and cultural otherness. How does Abildgaard negotiate the prevailing aesthetics of his time with an interest in Norse mythology and national romanticism? There’s a tension here between historical representation and artistic interpretation. The artist invites us to consider the ways in which we construct our understanding of identity, both personal and national, through visual culture.