Midwinter sacrifice

The large painting Midwinter Sacrifice hangs in the upper staircase of Nationalmuseum since 1992. The painting has caused controversy since it was first conceived. Carl Larsson’s monumental work, completed in 1915, was created on his own initiative. He based it on two 11th century documents – Adam of Bremen’s description of the temple at Uppsala, and Snorri Sturluson’s Ynglinga Story.

Before the painting was hung in its current place, the photographer and writer Georg Sessler had the opportunity to photograph Midwinter Sacrifice in detail. The result is reproduced in this book, together with a few short introductory essays on Carl Larsson, the history of the painting, and a summary of the Story of Domald by Georg Sessler. This illustrated book gives readers young and old a unique chance to see and discover the many details in Midwinter Sacrifice, Carl Larsson’s personal interpretation of ancient myth.