Kirsten Svendsdatter Finds the Gold Horn at Gallehus on 20 July 1639 1859

Niels Simonsen painted "Kirsten Svendsdatter Finds the Gold Horn at Gallehus on 20 July 1639" in Denmark in the 19th century. This painting reflects a surge of national romanticism, where history and folklore were used to construct a distinct Danish identity. The image shows Kirsten, a peasant girl, discovering a golden horn, a significant archaeological find, linking the present to a heroic, mythical past. The horn itself becomes a symbol of national heritage. Simonsen highlights the everyday person, suggesting that national identity isn't just about kings and battles, but is rooted in the common folk and their connection to the land. This focus on the peasantry was a common trope in nationalist art. To understand this artwork fully, a historian would delve into the cultural and political context of 19th-century Denmark, exploring the rise of nationalism, archaeological discoveries, and the way these elements were woven into a narrative of national identity, often supported by institutions such as the national art museum.