Kjerringa ved peisen 

Curator: This watercolor illustration by Theodor Severin Kittelsen, titled "Kjerringa ved peisen," pulls us into a domestic scene charged with folklore. What’s your immediate take? Editor: Oof, my first thought? This room smells like woodsmoke and maybe... something else less savory bubbling in that cauldron. It’s wonderfully witchy, with a pinch of loneliness clinging to those hanging socks. Curator: Kittelsen often worked with themes of Norwegian folklore and nature, blending romanticism with a stark portrayal of peasant life. This artwork provides a window into both the mundane and the magical, looking at the lives of individuals that work outside of the norms of modern society.. What aspects of labor or materiality can you see coming to play? Editor: You know, looking at those rough-hewn logs in the walls, the humble, worn objects—the kettle, the patched clothing—they speak to a life shaped by very tangible constraints. But that magic…it's not separate from the labor, is it? It's woven in, a means of coping, perhaps of transforming the very substance of a hard existence. Even witchcraft requires material production. She must collect wood, feed and befriend the cat, find what goes into her brew. Curator: Precisely. And let's not ignore the social context: images such as these played a part in shaping national identity through art during the Romanticism period. By rendering such folkloric characters, the artist reinforces cultural myths and traditions, offering viewers both a sense of nostalgia and familiarity. The production of this art reflects a market demand for tales of folklore that spoke to cultural distinctiveness. How do you interpret Kittelsen's particular style? Editor: There's a wryness, I think. A respect for the woman and a definite leaning toward fantasy. Notice the cat, a furry familiar, or the glow of the fire turning ordinary implements into fantastical instruments. But ultimately it shows how mundane life can be infused with stories, imagination and creativity, all forms of material or immaterial making that create new forms of wealth for those that consume art. Curator: The image walks a tightrope between the real and unreal, doesn't it? It allows us to explore how art, through its materials and depictions, has functioned both as a reflection of and an escape from societal norms and realities. Editor: Yes. In the end, even the simplest of images can become an enchanted lens, focused on both past and present, the tangible and the totally imagined.