Askeladden Og Trollet 

Editor: This is "Askeladden Og Trollet" by Theodor Severin Kittelsen, a drawing made with ink, charcoal and pencil on paper. It looks like an illustration for a dark fairytale, the contrast between the enormous troll and tiny boy is striking! How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, considering Kittelsen’s context – a Norway grappling with its national identity in the late 19th century – this piece speaks volumes about power dynamics. Who do you see represented by the small boy, and by the troll? Editor: Hmm…the boy is a commoner, perhaps? And the troll, some sort of oppressive force? Curator: Precisely! Kittelsen was deeply invested in Norwegian folklore. In his art, the troll, stemming from the deep history of Scandinavian stories, can be viewed as a representation of both the entrenched societal norms, perhaps even colonialism, that Askeladden must outwit, suggesting ways of engaging with such structures, perhaps by subverting them. Editor: The figure seems monstrous but also sort of… pitiable, somehow. Curator: Consider the way Kittelsen renders the troll's size versus the almost grotesque detail in his feet and hands. Is Kittelsen glorifying him? Or showing his fragility in a quickly changing world? Askeladden’s cleverness becomes a powerful tool for disrupting that rigid hierarchy. Do you notice the almost eager way Askeladden offers up his hand? Editor: I see it now! Almost as though he is leading the troll along with promises. The work feels more subversive now! Curator: Kittelsen’s image isn’t simply a fantastical scene. It’s a coded commentary on the ability to challenge seemingly insurmountable obstacles, as a common theme in folklore is often the little people using cunning to beat supposedly more mighty characters, upending traditional power. Editor: I see the troll differently now. This image isn't just a fairytale illustration, it's a potent statement about resistance and social change, showing those mechanisms using guile and stories to subvert traditional figures of authority! Thanks!