Bron van Svinngarn en runensteen in Sigtuna 1695

This image shows two landscape drawings of Sigtuna in Sweden, made by Erik Reitz. The images invoke the pre-Christian history of Sweden through their depiction of runestones. The visual codes used here, typical of the period in which it was made, create a sense of national identity based on an imagined past. Sigtuna was an important place in early Swedish history, being one of the first towns in the country. By showing a spring and runestones, this drawing connects the history of the place with a kind of national mythology that was very popular at the time. To fully understand what this image represents, you can look at the history of antiquarianism in Sweden, and how the Swedish state began to create a national historical narrative. You might ask: What is the public role of art here? How do politics shape these images?