Illustration til "Gjordemoderen og Trolden" 1843

Editor: This woodcut by H. C. Henneberg from 1843, “Illustration til ‘Gjordemoderen og Trolden’", is fascinating. I find the scene so stark and mysterious, it reminds me of a Grimm's fairytale, or maybe a Danish folk story. What kind of commentary was Henneberg making through his visual choices here? Curator: That's a perceptive observation. Given its context, we need to consider Romanticism's preoccupation with folklore and national identity, alongside the prevailing social attitudes towards women and the role of midwives at the time. This print, intended as an illustration, serves to both visualise and perhaps subtly critique established power structures. Editor: Critique? How so? Curator: Note how the midwife is the central figure, despite being placed precariously on the horse. The folklore itself likely speaks to a societal need for control over, and demonization of, female knowledge and autonomy in childbirth. By visually depicting this scene, Henneberg is participating in and potentially amplifying the concerns of the period, but perhaps also questioning those anxieties through the medium of art. What does the starkness you noticed evoke? Editor: The starkness makes it feel unsettling, almost like a warning. That adds a layer to it; beyond just illustrating a story, it feels like it is asking questions. Curator: Exactly. How are women in positions of power being portrayed? Are we meant to fear the troll or the midwife more? Henneberg’s work underscores how art becomes a battleground for social ideologies. The very act of illustrating this particular story helps to reinforce existing attitudes. Editor: I never would have considered that it might reflect fears about female power, I was only focusing on it being Romantic. Seeing it that way opens up so many questions! Curator: And that’s precisely the point! We've highlighted how social anxieties and historical narratives shape even seemingly simple illustrations. The context in which art is produced profoundly shapes how we understand it.