Odin på Sleipuir. Vindfløjen på Vallekilde højskole 1856 - 1933

Joakim Skovgaard made this drawing of Odin on Sleipnir, the wind vane for Vallekilde Folk High School, with pencil and watercolor. The grid lines, lightly drawn, suggest it was a study for a larger work, likely executed in metal. The choice of materials here isn’t arbitrary. Skovgaard was clearly interested in the interplay between surface, texture, and the symbolic weight of his subject. The sketch captures Odin, Norse god of wisdom and poetry, riding his eight-legged horse. It evokes a sense of monumental presence, even though it is just a study on paper. There is a directness in this drawing, with a focus on the form and structure. The artist is thinking about how the wind will catch in the vane, how the silhouette will read against the sky. And with the bare minimum of means, Skovgaard suggests the importance of traditional Nordic mythology to Danish culture. It reminds us that even sketches can carry profound cultural significance, blurring the lines between design, craft, and fine art.