Väsenbilder

Väsenbilder is a term used in folklore studies to denote visual representations of beings in Nordic folklore. The word combines väsen (being, creature) and bilder (images). They appear in various media and periods, reflecting how communities pictured the unseen.

Historically, Väsenbilder can be found in Sweden, Norway, and Iceland, spanning from medieval church art and runic or manuscript illustrations to later popular prints in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were often used to depict supernatural beings in the landscapes of daily life, blending in with settings such as forests, hills, and watersides.

Subjects depicted in Väsenbilder typically include trolls, elves, dwarfs, and water spirits, among other folktale beings. The images may show interactions with humans, with otherworldly beings, or moral lessons. Styles range from rustic and simplified motifs in earlier periods to more naturalistic or conceptually nuanced representations in later art.

Function and interpretation of Väsenbilder vary, but they commonly served didactic or protective purposes, illustrating warnings against venturing into dangerous places or disrespecting the unseen world. They also reflect how people negotiated with the supernatural forces they believed influenced daily life, weather, fertility, and fate. Collectors and scholars in later centuries documented motifs, contributing to a broader understanding of regional visual culture.

Today, Väsenbilder are of interest to art historians, folklorists, and cultural historians as witnesses to how communities visualized and mediated their beliefs about the living world beyond ordinary perception. They contribute to studies of national identity, rural life, and the history of folk art.