Dancing troll 

Curator: Right, let's take a look at this pen drawing entitled "Dancing Troll." It's unsigned and undated, but it’s by Theodor Severin Kittelsen. Editor: Well, it immediately strikes me as something utterly absurd, yet so endearing. There's this…round woman waltzing with, presumably, the troll. Their faces have this closed-eye serenity, a private joke or reverie. It feels utterly Norwegian! Curator: That sense of national identity is crucial. Kittelsen played a huge role in visualizing Norwegian folklore. Trolls, you see, weren't just scary monsters but integral parts of the national romanticism movement. The figure in the dress, in the context of Norwegian folklore, could possibly be a representation of the 'hulder', or forest creature, which, in Norwegian folklore, are seductive creatures living in the woods. Editor: Right! She is absolutely seducing the troll! Look at the composition—they're like two puffy clouds bopping around together, carefree in this monochromatic void. It’s a bit unsettling if you think about it – is this an endorsement of their interaction, or is there a satirical edge at play here? I'm torn, and that tension, is what fascinates me. Curator: And the visual vocabulary of folk art adds layers too. These seemingly simple lines and shapes often held deep symbolic weight within the culture that produced them, embodying collective anxieties and aspirations. Kittelsen, with his work being narrative art, provides social commentary. Editor: It definitely makes me think of dark fairy tales! But is she holding a walking stick, or dragging the little guy with it? It certainly changes the mood depending on what we suppose it is. I suppose we are each free to have their own reading on this enchanting visual riddle. Curator: Absolutely, that's what makes art compelling. The context, in this case the national identity within 19th century Norway is key in fully comprehending the artwork, and appreciating its visual components that come from folk art, even if with just one pen drawing, so beautifully displayed. Editor: Yes, its deceptive playfulness that allows a world of interpretation and dark tales.