Kong Skjold bæres frem 1891

Lorenz Frølich created this delicate pencil drawing, Kong Skjold bæres frem, sometime in the late 19th century. The composition features a symmetrical arrangement of figures bearing a form, possibly a shield, above their heads. The linear quality dominates, with lightly sketched figures conveying a sense of movement and solemnity. Frølich's use of line not only defines the forms, but also suggests the weight and burden carried by the figures. We see an early structuralist concept, which is a deep structure that underlies the narrative content, in this case, the act of carrying and the symbolic importance of what is being carried, which creates meaning. The drawing prompts a semiotic reading, where the visual elements function as signs. The act of carrying can be interpreted as a signifier of duty, tradition, and the cyclical nature of power. The very form of the drawing and its formal construction, points to this interpretation.