From the Old Norse poem Grottasongr (cave song), this piece by Larsson depicts the two giantesses, Fenja and Menja, grinding while in the service of King Fróði. As the story goes, the King recieved a mill with two grindstones so large, no man was strong enough to work them. If they were to be worked, however, they could produce anything that was wished. Having received the two giantesses as slaves, the King put them to work creating gold, peace, and happiness for him. Bound to the mill, with little rest given, and no way to escape, the two giant women began to sing the Song of Grótti (the poem itself), and conjured up a sea king named Mysing, who killed Fróði while he slept.
Giants, also known as jötunn, are common within Norse mythology. Originally thought to personify the chaotic, destructive forces of nature, these creatures eventually became a somewhat ambivalent group of figures nestled into the broad cosmology of Scandinavia. As we will see in the coming months, giant men and women are well used in religious imagery all over the world.
Carl Larsson, a Swedish artist known for his water colors and interior design, created this work as part of a set of images illustrating the Poetic Edda, the definitive collection of Old Norse poems. Though he was the original artist, what is being viewed is a woodcut, produced from the original art by xylographer Gunnar Forssel.
You can read the Poetic Edda, including Grottasongr, here.
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