Fire lurblæsere, et vejkryds og lurblæserhoveder 1820 - 1908

Editor: So, here we have Lorenz Frølich’s drawing, “Fire lurblæsere, et vejkryds og lurblæserhoveder,” made sometime between 1820 and 1908, using ink on paper. It’s at the Statens Museum for Kunst. There’s something almost comical about these hornblowers… like a blueprint for a Viking marching band. What's your take on it? Curator: Oh, I love that! Viking marching band – spot on! To me, this isn't just about Vikings, though. Frølich's work often dives into Danish history and Norse mythology. I see a longing for a heroic past, a desire to resurrect those epic narratives. Think of the lur, that ancient instrument, as a symbol. What kind of sound do you imagine coming from it? Editor: Epic and powerful, I guess? But it's also kind of unwieldy, a bit silly-looking. Like it'd be hard to actually *march* and play that thing. Curator: Exactly! And that tension between the grand, heroic ideal and the somewhat clumsy reality is where Frølich gets interesting, wouldn't you say? He's playing with national identity, with how we *want* to see ourselves versus maybe how we *are*. Are we as Danes epic heroes…or blokes trying to wrangle a really big horn? Editor: That's a great point. I was so focused on the visual, I missed the national identity part. Curator: It's easy to do! Art history's like an archeological dig. We unearth layers of meaning over time, from the surface goofiness of Viking band practice, down into a reflective understanding of Danish nationalism. Keeps life interesting, don't you think? Editor: Definitely makes me look at those lur-players in a whole new light! Thanks!