Loke. Illustration til Fabricius' Danmarks historie 1, 108. 1854

This is H.C. Henneberg’s illustration of Loke for Fabricius’s “Danmarks historie”, or “History of Denmark”. In this image, Loke, the trickster god of Norse mythology, is depicted as a somewhat androgynous figure, draped in what appears to be a monk's robe. The illustration was created during a time of growing national consciousness and interest in Norse mythology in Denmark. Artists like Henneberg played a role in shaping and visualizing these ancient stories for a contemporary audience. As a figure who challenges boundaries and defies categorization, Loke embodies a spirit of transgression and ambiguity. The artist has chosen to represent a figure who disrupts traditional heroic narratives, and perhaps encourages us to question fixed identities and embrace the fluidity of human experience.