Artwork

From Ludvig Holbergs´s The Journey of Niels Klim to The World Underground

From Ludvig Holbergs´s The Journey of Niels Klim to The World Underground is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1786 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1786 by the artist identified as 241_person, this oil painting interprets a scene from Ludvig Holberg’s satirical novel *The Journey of Niels Klim to the World Underground*. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of late‑18th‑century narrative illustration.

Subject & Meaning

A bearded man wearing a turban observes the group, adding an element of exoticism that reflects the novel’s exploration of foreign societies.

The composition depicts five figures gathered in a nocturnal forest. At the centre stands a figure in a vivid, patterned costume clutching a leafy branch, suggesting a ritual or leadership role. To the left, a cloaked individual with a raised hood watches, while on the right a robed person gestures toward the central figure. A bearded man wearing a turban observes the group, adding an element of exoticism that reflects the novel’s exploration of foreign societies.

Technique & Style

The artist employs a strong chiaroscuro effect, contrasting illuminated faces and garments with deep, enveloping shadows of the surrounding trees. This dramatic lighting heightens the tension of the scene and directs the viewer’s eye toward the brightly dressed central character. The brushwork is relatively tight in the illuminated areas, while the background foliage is rendered with looser, atmospheric strokes that suggest depth and mystery.

History & Provenance

The painting was likely produced shortly after the novel’s publication, capitalising on its popularity in the late 1700s. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings through a 19th‑century acquisition, though the precise chain of ownership before that remains undocumented. Its presence in an ethnographic collection underscores the work’s thematic focus on cultural encounter and imagined societies.