Kong Sigvald III 1646

This print of Kong Sigvald III was made by an anonymous artist and now resides in the Statens Museum for Kunst. The image presents us with an intriguing puzzle about the politics of historical representation. We see Sigvald III, an early Danish king, framed in a portrait style common in 17th and 18th-century Europe. Yet, the inscription indicates he died in the year 378 – long before the concept of Denmark or the visual conventions of portraiture even existed. What are we to make of this anachronism? The print likely served a nationalist agenda. By visualizing a distant, almost mythical ruler, it attempts to legitimize and solidify a sense of Danish identity. The visual language, borrowed from contemporary European royalty, elevates Sigvald to a position of power and prestige, creating a lineage where perhaps none firmly existed. Understanding this print requires delving into the history of Danish nationalism, early historical writing, and the role of visual culture in constructing national identity.