Illustration til Carl Ploug, "Kong Harald og Islændingen" 1876 - 1881

This is an anonymous illustration made in 1876 for Carl Ploug's "Kong Harald og Islændingen," now held at the SMK in Copenhagen. The image depicts a woman peering out of a window, beside a sign reading ‘BERG LJOT’. This illustration likely accompanied a specific edition of Ploug’s work, reflecting the rise of illustrated books and periodicals in 19th-century Denmark. Such imagery played a key role in shaping national identity, often drawing upon Norse mythology and historical sagas. Consider the resurgence of interest in Viking history and the use of runic script in the sign. Who was the intended audience for this image? What were the prevailing social and political ideologies at the time? These are crucial questions for any art historian. By consulting period publications, letters, and other archival materials, we can gain a deeper understanding of the image’s original context and its role in the cultural landscape of 19th-century Denmark. Art’s meaning is always contingent on its social and institutional context.