De sammensvorne ride fra Finnerup efter Erik Glippings drab 1882

J. Hildebrand created this print, “The Conspirators Ride from Finnerup after the Murder of Erik Glipping," in the late 19th century. This small image depicts a dramatic historical event: the escape of those who assassinated King Erik Glipping of Denmark in 1286. Hildebrand, working in a period of rising nationalism, evokes a romanticized view of Danish history. The conspirators, cloaked and on horseback, are portrayed fleeing under a stormy sky, their figures blending into the landscape. This evokes feelings of the rugged, untamed nature of the Danish countryside and its people. Who were these men? Were they heroes resisting tyranny, or simply murderers? Hildebrand leaves us to consider the complexities of justice, power, and national identity. The artist encourages us to contemplate how the narratives of history are constructed, and how they continue to shape our understanding of ourselves and our nation.