Kong Vermund 1646

This anonymous engraving portrays Kong Vermund, a figure shrouded in the mists of Danish legend. The print, now held at the SMK, captures Vermund in regal attire, holding a scepter. Consider the power dynamics at play in portraying a figure from the past. Who decides how history is remembered and represented? The inscription identifies Vermund as blind, shaping our perception. Blindness was often associated with wisdom, but also vulnerability. Was this a sympathetic portrayal, or did it play into existing prejudices? What did it mean to ascribe this characteristic to a royal figure? Engravings like this were often used to construct narratives of national identity. How does this image contribute to the myth-making surrounding Danish history? The artist here invites us to consider the stories we tell about our past, and how those stories shape our present. What aspects of Vermund’s story were emphasized, and what was left out?