Illustration til "Velgjort og ilede lønnet" 1870 - 1883

This Illustration til "Velgjort og ilede lønnet," of unknown date, is a work by an anonymous artist now residing at the SMK. Observe the stark contrast between the bear, embodying untamed wilderness, and the man with his horse, symbols of human labor and domestication. The bear, a primal force, often appears in folklore as a figure of both fear and respect, representing the raw power of nature. Yet, recall the many iterations of this motif through time, like the story of Goldilocks, where the fear of the bear is subverted. Notice how the artist portrays the fraught interaction between man and horse and contrast it with the free bear, drinking peacefully. Such depictions tap into a collective memory of struggle and dominion, triggering subconscious associations with control and submission. The emotional tension in the scene is palpable, revealing the deep-seated psychological impact of our relationship with the natural world. These cyclical motifs reappear, ever changing, across diverse cultural expressions and through the history of image-making.