Udkast til et bogbind til værk om Lorenz Frølich 1856 - 1933

Joakim Skovgaard sketched this design for a book binding in pencil on paper. The sketch features a woman riding a dragon, surrounded by swirling patterns. Skovgaard made this drawing for a book about Lorenz Frølich, and the image creates meaning through a blend of Norse mythology and the decorative arts prevalent in Denmark at the turn of the 20th century. The cultural and institutional context is essential here. Skovgaard was deeply involved in Danish national romanticism. He drew inspiration from Norse sagas and folklore. He taught at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and contributed to the decoration of public buildings. The design suggests a connection between artistic creativity and national identity, referencing a longing for a heroic past. Understanding this work involves studying the history of Danish art institutions, the revival of interest in Norse mythology, and the political uses of art in nation-building.