Vignet til "Kong Haakon bortlover sin datter" 1878

Waldemar Bøhme created this vignette for "Kong Haakon bortlover sin datter," or "King Haakon gives away his daughter" using an unconfirmed medium. Bøhme created this piece at a time when ideas of nationalism and romanticism were becoming increasingly important to artists. Looking at this image, we see what appears to be a young royal couple in ceremonial dress, framed with ornate borders and illustrations of birds and dragons. The figures evoke a sense of purity and innocence, yet in reality this image speaks to much more than a child's game of dress up. Arranged marriages were common among royalty to cement alliances and ensure political stability. Therefore, despite their youth, the children symbolize the weight of familial duty and political expectation. The use of children in this context invites us to consider the loss of innocence and autonomy that often accompanies institutionalized power. It begs us to contemplate what traditions and values we perpetuate through cultural rituals.