Balder 1881

Niels Larsen Stevns made this sketch of Balder in graphite on paper. Balder, the god of light, joy, and purity is a popular figure in Norse mythology. Here, Balder lies prone, as he is soon to be slain. The sketch was made in Denmark in the late 19th or early 20th century, a time when Danish national identity was being constructed and celebrated through references to a pre-Christian, Viking past. Norse mythology, which had been suppressed by the church for centuries, became a source of national pride and artistic inspiration. Museums and galleries played a key role in promoting this vision of Danish history. The visual language of the sketch evokes the aesthetic of classical sculpture while drawing on the symbolic power of Norse myth. It speaks to the complex interplay between art, national identity, and institutional narratives in early 20th century Denmark. To understand it better, we could look at the archives of the Danish art world, the exhibition histories of Danish museums, and the writings of Danish intellectuals. Art is more meaningful when we understand the social and institutional conditions that shape its production and reception.