Ereboog van walviskaken te Skårøya ter gelegenheid van het bezoek van keizer Wilhelm II van Duitsland before 1892

This photograph by Paul Güssfeldt depicts an arch made of whale jaws, erected to honor Kaiser Wilhelm II's visit to Skårøya, Norway. Made to commemorate a visit from the German Emperor, the piece gives us insight into the relationship between Norway and Germany at the turn of the century. Whalebone, sourced from the local whaling industry, is used in the construction of the arch. The image captures the intersection of local industry and the symbolic assertion of imperial power. It is a monument made from the spoils of a controversial industry. The image provides not only an account of a particular historical event, but prompts us to question Norway's relationship to the controversial whaling industry, as well as its political ties with other European powers. To further understand the relationship between the two countries and the political views of the artist, we might look to archives of political correspondence, travel logs, and publications on Norwegian industry. These documents can provide a deeper understanding of the cultural values and political conditions that shaped the art of the time.