Ridder i hjorteham 1914 - 1926

Editor: Here we have Joakim Skovgaard’s pen and ink drawing, *Ridder i hjorteham,* dating from between 1914 and 1926. There’s this figure draped in cloth encountering a deer in the woods. It looks like an illustration from a storybook… How do you interpret the imagery here? Curator: Well, consider the socio-political landscape of the early 20th century when this was created. There was a turn toward national romanticism, and a search for identity amidst industrialization and urbanization. This piece utilizes recognizable national motifs in the Nordic countries to return to mythic tales. Skovgaard likely looked back to the public role art played in building a collective, visualising foundational national narratives. Editor: That makes sense. So it’s less about personal expression and more about fostering a shared cultural understanding through recognizable symbols. I guess that’s why it looks like an illustration? Curator: Precisely. He's consciously choosing subject matter—a knight transformed into a deer, an encounter within the wilderness—that resonated with anxieties and aspirations of the time, tapping into a wellspring of national pride. Notice the grid beneath, this wasn't just a quick sketch, it was carefully planned to promote accessibility of historic myth. What impact would repeated images like this have on its viewers? Editor: They might feel more connected to their culture and heritage. By visualizing the stories, the artist helped cement a sense of national identity for its contemporary audience. And now looking back at it, I feel connected to a history of symbolism in Nordic art. Curator: Yes, you can think about it as cultural building through imagery! Editor: I hadn't thought about art playing such an active role in shaping identity. It adds a whole new dimension to understanding works like Skovgaard’s. Curator: Exactly, that’s the beautiful thing about considering art in a social context – it becomes a mirror reflecting a society’s values and ambitions.