Ved juletid 1878

Curator: Right now we're looking at a charming woodcut by H.C. Henneberg, titled "Ved juletid", dating back to 1878. It's currently housed at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. Editor: Immediately, I feel a whimsical, almost slightly sinister mood, which feels fitting for folk tales. A band of gnomes pushing through the snow towards their cavern. There's such a sense of focused movement contrasted with the stark stillness of the winter scene. Curator: Yes, it's fascinating how he captures this little genre scene using the stark contrast of the woodcut medium, especially with these industrious little creatures in their pointed caps. It brings out this feeling of winter rituals from a bygone era. But the artist makes me wonder: What kind of winter traditions are really being observed in this little print? Are they merely to bring about cheer? Or perhaps ward something away? Editor: Absolutely. Henneberg presents such a stylized portrayal of gnomes—dwarfish figures always feel like cultural embodiments of the labouring class. Consider that this piece emerged amidst growing class consciousness in the late 19th century, an era marked by burgeoning socialist thought and discourse. In many Northern European folktales, these creatures both assisted with the harvest and wreaked havoc. They almost serve as a visual embodiment of societal anxieties around wealth disparity. Curator: Oh, I like that idea of anxiety—you see, for me, there is such a dark humor about how committed these little figures are in their work. What labor they bring in their snowy scene is lost to the vast backdrop of the tree and snow, even as they move from the protective entrance that may hold other members of the gnome’s family. They're almost toiling in vain, yet, it feels joyful? Editor: Yes! The futility of their labor is almost... capitalist! A distraction by those who rule? In my perspective, it serves as a potent commentary on the endless cycle of labor within class constructs and societal expectations. In that, I wonder how our own modern perceptions affect us as viewers? Does Henneberg, a privileged member of Danish society, attempt to provide a sincere view into folklore? Or further separate us? Curator: It makes me wonder if it's a romanticism and an imagined distance. Perhaps, looking at it through that critical lens is something worth our notice during the upcoming holidays? Editor: Precisely. The questions this raises around community, labor and visibility in a world still struggling to be fair resonate just as potently today. Thank you for joining me to reconsider and appreciate this wonderful print!