Nordbosagnene. Fortællingen om Oungortok: Kajakmanden fra Akpaitsivik prøver på høvdingen Oungortoks opfordring sin fuglepil mod kablunakken 1858 - 1860

Aron from Kangeq made this woodcut, Nordbosagnene, sometime in the mid-19th century. It depicts a scene in Greenland where a kayaker, urged on by his chief, attempts to shoot a colonist. The print is part of a larger series that visualizes Inuit oral traditions. In the 19th century, as Denmark tightened its grip on Greenland, a new class of educated Inuit emerged. Figures like Aron became key intermediaries, tasked with documenting their own culture for a European audience. This led to an interesting dynamic, with the artist often incorporating European artistic conventions into their work. To truly understand this image, we need to look at the complex interplay of colonial power, cultural preservation, and artistic exchange. Research into Danish colonial archives, Inuit oral histories, and the biographies of figures like Aron can provide a richer understanding of art's social role.