Afbildningen

Afbildningen is a Swedish term that denotes the act or result of creating an image or depiction. It is formed from afbilda, to depict or represent, plus the noun suffix -ningen, and is used in discussions of visual representation across art, science, and media. The word covers paintings, drawings, engravings, prints, photographs, and other forms of illustration, as well as digital renderings that aim to render an appearance or concept in visual form.

In art and visual culture, afbildningen refers to the process of translating the seen world into imagery, including choices of likeness, composition, and medium. It encompasses questions of representation, style, authorial intention, and interpretation, as well as the relationship between subject and depiction. In scientific and educational contexts, the term is used for illustrations, diagrams, and images produced to explain phenomena, organize data, or communicate findings, ranging from anatomical drawings to microscopy images. The concept has historical significance as technologies for depiction—such as woodcuts, engravings, lithography, photography, and digital imaging—expanded the reach and accuracy of afbildningen and shaped how images circulated in culture and knowledge.

Today, afbildningen remains central to discussions of image-making, provenance, and rights in museums, publishers, and schools. It also appears in debates about authenticity, reproduction, and the power of visuals to convey truth or persuasion. See also avbildning, avbilda, bild, reproduktion.