The Viking who was cancelled

The Viking that discovered America was recently cancelled!

After years in the cellar, Christian Krohg's iconic 'Leiv Eiriksson oppdager Amerika' sails back into public view! This painting, once a symbol of Norwegian-American pride at the 1893 World's Fair, recently sparked a cultural debate in Norway. Critics labeled it 'colonialistic', igniting discussions on art's role in history. Despite initial removal from the National Museum for its "controversial portrayal", it's now back, inviting us to reflect on history's complexities.

The painting, originally created for the 1893 World's Fair, became a point of contention when the Director of Collections at the National Museum in Norway, Stina Högkvist, referred to it as "colonialistic" and said it romanticized Norwegians who went to America. This led to a heated debate in the art community and the Norwegian parliament, with accusations of censorship and the rise of "woke culture". After a public apology and much discussion, involving everyone from members of parliament to media pundits, the painting was eventually brought back for public display.