Fortællingen om Kagssuk: De gamle mænd hævner sig på Kagssuk, der er kommet ud af sit hus, lokket af varselømmertens skrig 1858 - 1860

Curator: This compelling woodcut, dating from 1858 to 1860, is entitled "The Tale of Kagssuk: The old men avenge themselves on Kagssuk, who has come out of his house, lured by the cry of the careless." It’s by Aron from Kangeq and is currently housed here at the SMK. Editor: It’s striking! I'm immediately drawn to the sharp contrast between light and dark. It feels stark, immediate, like a freeze-frame of a very consequential moment. And, judging by the arrow in his chest, not a great one for Kagssuk. Curator: Precisely. This print tells a visual story. Kagssuk is clearly being punished, a scene heavy with narrative significance for the Greenlandic Inuit. Notice the avenging old men – their faces reveal a collective anger. What cultural meanings do you see emerging? Editor: What interests me is the *making* of this image. It's a woodcut, demanding skill and labor to carve out the design in reverse. We see the traces of that work here in the expressive hatched lines which articulate the sea and build form throughout the whole scene. Think about the economics: who produced the woodblock, how many prints were made, and what would the printmaker earn? These aspects were all meaningful parts of this historical context. Curator: Certainly. But those visual signifiers! Consider the large bird perched above— it could be interpreted as an omen. Birds are often messengers. Then, we have the architecture of the house behind. Its simple design possibly conveys the confines or limited options that were once a factor in Kagssuk’s fate. Editor: I see your point. For me though, focusing on the materiality helps appreciate this artwork as not just some "illustration" of folklore. Its tactile quality, the labor that was applied through its wood material, the number of impressions made...these material realities offer additional insight into the creation and the reception of storytelling back then. Curator: An interesting viewpoint! Considering both the layers of meaning, as well as the artistic endeavor of production, helps this artwork to resonate on an immediate emotional level. Editor: Right. A reminder that it's both an art object with tactile and monetary aspects, but is indeed part of a significant cultural inheritance as well.