Ludvig Kristensen Daa 1838 - 1928

This is a portrait of Ludvig Kristensen Daa by Georg Pauli. It is undated and its medium is unconfirmed. Daa was a Norwegian historian, ethnographer, and politician. Portraits are powerful tools in constructing the image of important public figures. Consider the way that Daa is presented to us: his suit and bow tie signify his membership in the bourgeoisie, as do his studious spectacles and neatly trimmed beard. What does this say about the kind of person Norwegians respected in the 19th century? Historical sources can give us a more nuanced picture of Daa. He was involved in advocating for Norwegian independence and a champion of the Landsmål movement. His image is thus bound up with the social history of Norwegian nationalism and linguistic revival. We might look for further clues in the archives of nationalist organizations. The task of the historian, then, is to see the artistic image as part of a larger constellation of social and political forces.