Omslag til eventyret "Bjergmanden og Tordenvejret" 1824 - 1907

This is Christen Dalsgaard’s cover design for the tale of “The Mountain Man and the Thunderstorm”. The title is rendered in a decorative style evocative of illuminated manuscripts, and a gnome-like figure clings to the initial ‘B’. This depiction embodies a rich vein of cultural memory surrounding subterranean spirits. Consider the gnome—a motif that echoes through folklore and art. In ancient traditions, such beings were guardians of the earth's hidden treasures. They appear in various guises across cultures; think of the Kabbalistic 'golem' or the Roman 'genius loci'. The association of gnomes with mountains reflects humanity's enduring fascination with the earth’s hidden powers. Mountains, as both formidable obstacles and sources of vital resources, have always held a sacred place in our collective psyche. This image captures that primal connection, reminding us of the stories we tell ourselves to understand the world around us. Through this image, Dalsgaard taps into a non-linear tradition, where cultural symbols are continually reshaped and reinterpreted.