Brede sejl over Nordsjø går 1895

Thorolf Pedersen made this painting, "Brede sejl over Nordsjø går" - or "Broad sails crossing the North Sea" - with oil on canvas. This epic seascape invokes the Viking age and resonates with 19th-century nationalism. The Danish state was struggling to maintain its authority over territories like Norway, Iceland, and Greenland. The Vikings were important symbols in this fraught political landscape. Seen as intrepid explorers, they reflected the country's maritime power. But the painting’s sombre mood also hints at the decline of Danish influence. Note the turbulent waves, the dark sails, and the indistinct figures on board ship. This isn’t a celebration of military might. Instead, Pedersen gives us a melancholic meditation on a nation's past glories. To understand more, you might look at how other artists of the period depicted the Vikings, and compare this to the narratives that were emerging from Danish museums and historical societies at the time. What were the prevailing attitudes and beliefs about the Vikings?