Danish Cultural Art, Part 2 of 2

Today, we’ll examine Denmark’s unique architecture, handicrafts, visual arts, and literature. Kronborg Castle has been standing above a narrow cape between the coasts of Denmark and Sweden for six centuries. It is well known as the home of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The Castle, widely recognized as one of Europe’s most outstanding Renaissance castles, was adopted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

One of the most popular and famous Danish designs is the Grand Prix chair, considered to be among the most successful chair designs of the 20th century. Its simple, elegant form and suitability for mass production contributed to its success. In 1957 the designer Arne Jacobsen won the Grand Prix for the chair at the Triennale Exhibition in Milan.

Another distinctive Danish folk art practice is silversmithing. Danish artists have long created beautiful tools and utensils made of silver. For example, in the early 1900’s the world-renowned Danish silversmith Georg Jensen and his workshop produced amazing designs such as “The Adam and Eve Buckle,” “Bird Eating Berries Brooch,” “Pregnant Duck Pitcher,” and many other pieces of fine jewelry and dinnerware.

Danish visual arts can be traced back to significant artifacts from the 2nd millennium BC, such as the Trundholm Sun Chariot. Viking art has been strongly influential and many examples have survived up to the present day. For example, many Viking stone monuments still stand untouched in the Danish countryside. And church frescos from the Medieval Period are well preserved. Portrait painting was also popular among members of the Danish court and aristocracy during the Middle Ages.

Denmark’s most famous author, Hans Christian Andersen, wrote a book of fairy tales consisting of 156 stories that have been translated into more than 125 languages. At least nine of his tales have been made into films and loved by many generations around the world, as they uplift our spirits and spark our imaginations.