Die Märchenerzählerin 1870

Franz von Defregger painted ‘Die Märchenerzählerin’ in 1870 using oil on canvas. It shows an old woman telling fairy tales to a group of children. The setting is a rustic, dimly lit interior, likely in a rural Alpine village, which was a subject the artist often returned to. Defregger was a popular genre painter in late 19th-century Austria and Germany. This work reflects a growing interest in folklore and rural life. The image romanticizes the traditional, pre-industrial way of life, a common theme in art of this period, especially given increasing industrialization. The old woman embodies a repository of cultural knowledge, passing down stories that connect the children to their heritage and perhaps reinforce traditional values. It presents an idealized view of rural culture at a time of immense social and economic change. Understanding this painting requires us to research the artist's biography and to consider the political and cultural context in which it was created and became popular. It also invites us to investigate the evolving role of fairy tales and folklore in shaping national identities and preserving cultural memory.