Old Norse motifs in art between neoromantic, national and Nordic. The case of "Midwinter Sacrifice" by Carl Larsson

The turn of the twentieth century observed the culmination of National Romanticism in art. In Scandinavia, the artistic search of national identity grounded in historical motifs and cultural heritage, which often led to common, Nordic sources. Norse mythology remained a crucial inspiration, providing archetypes and narratives used to construct both national and pan-Scandinavian identities. Carl Larsson’s Midwinter Sacrifice (1915) epitomizes this tension. The monumental painting depicts the legendary sacrifice of King Domald to save his people, referencing Old Norse ritual and Sweden’s mythical past. The composition represents National romantic narrative of the past, as it refers to Sweden’s heritage and imagination of the historical events, and individual understanding of Norse mythology. Rejection of the painting by the National Museum’s commitee due to the controversial subject matter and nudity provoked heated debate on how history should be represented in art. I examine the painting, using more texts and artefacts than it is usually assumed by researches of his oeuvre. Larsson’s will to create a ‘truly Swedish’ artwork based on Norse myths to underline the ancient genesis of Sweden is juxtaposed with critique and recent scholarship. The case of Midvinterblot illustrates how Norse mythology was mobilized not only to glorify heroic Viking times but also to negotiate questions of national identity, tradition, and modernity. In re-examining Larsson’s work, I argue that its significance lies in its ability to reflect the evolving Swedish self-image and to capture a broader Nordic discourse on the past during a period of profound cultural transformation.