Valkyrien 1869

Editor: So, here we have "Valkyrien" by Peter Nicolai Arbo, painted in 1869. It’s an oil painting depicting a Valkyrie on horseback. I'm immediately struck by how the artist seems to be idealizing war, making it almost glamorous. What aspects of its creation do you find most interesting? Curator: Given a materialist reading, let’s consider the materials used and their cost. Oil paints themselves, refined pigments, canvases of a certain size, all of that points to a specific level of patronage that afforded Arbo the means to produce such a work. Further, the depicted subject matter, rooted in Norse mythology, was part of a broader cultural movement of romantic nationalism at the time. What industries or classes benefited most directly from celebrating such subjects and materials? Editor: That's interesting. So, you're saying the materials themselves and the romantic nationalism are connected to the prevailing economy and cultural values? Curator: Precisely. And let’s think about labor. Whose labor went into the mining and refining of those pigments? Who wove the canvas? The piece presents a warrior culture but masks all the underlying labor required to make such imagery circulate and appear valuable. Could the gleam of her armor distract from something? Editor: I never thought of it that way, how the glorification obscures all the practical aspects, almost like a form of propaganda for…what, exactly? Upper class dominance? Curator: Perhaps. It certainly encourages the consumption of a particular vision of national identity tied to heroism, manufactured scarcity and resource control. Where did the metals for that shield come from, both literally and figuratively in terms of cultural appropriation? Editor: So, seeing the painting through a materialist lens really changes its meaning. I am no longer only seeing this mythological warrior, I’m thinking of class structures. Thanks for expanding my perspective. Curator: My pleasure. Considering the concrete realities behind art helps us move beyond romantic ideals and ask harder questions.