Cathmor og Sulmalla 1823

This print by Johan Christian Ernst Walter was dedicated to the King of Denmark, although the story of Cathmor and Sulmalla is drawn from the poetry of the Scottish writer James Macpherson. Macpherson claimed to have translated these epic poems from ancient Gaelic sources. However, literary critics have pointed out the absence of such sources, instead suggesting that Macpherson’s work tapped into a popular, and lucrative, fascination with folklore and myth. Walter's image contributes to this phenomenon by visually constructing the figures from Macpherson's story. It creates meaning through cultural references, associating the print with the fashion for Romanticism. The print itself is now part of a national art collection, suggesting the power of institutions to shape the reception of art. A deeper understanding requires examining the social conditions of artistic production, looking at resources like literary criticism and institutional records to appreciate the dynamic role of art within its time.