House and Sheep 

Louisa Matthiasdottir made this painting of a house and sheep, perhaps in the 1980s, with oils on canvas. Her scene depicts a rural Icelandic landscape. Matthiasdottir emigrated to the US, but this work shows a clear engagement with Iceland's traditions and culture. The painting's flat blocks of color are reminiscent of folk art, while the subject matter evokes Iceland's historical dependence on agriculture, particularly sheep farming. Iceland’s population was historically scattered and the landscape was dominated by individual farms. The painting is visually striking. The bright colors create a sense of vibrancy, while the simplified forms give the painting a sense of timelessness. As historians, we might want to explore whether Matthiasdottir’s image challenges or reinforces existing social structures. We can look at factors such as land ownership and gender roles in Icelandic farming communities. By examining paintings like this, we can get a richer and more nuanced understanding of a culture’s values and beliefs.