Djákninn á Myrká

Ásgrímur Jónsson created numerous works inspired by one of Iceland’s most famous ghost stories, The Deacon of Myrká. The tale tells of a deacon who returns after death to fetch his fiancée, Guðrún, who believes she is on her way to a Christmas celebration. In his folktale paintings, Ásgrímur often chooses the moment when the story intensifies and reaches its dramatic climax. In the work shown here, a pale white patch glimmers at the back of the apparition’s neck as the deacon rides with Guðrún across the Hörgá River. This detail marks the turning point in the story, when Guðrún realises that the deacon has returned from the dead. The deacon addresses Guðrún, calling her “Garún, Garún,” as ghosts are unable to utter the name of God (Guð).

The painting is rendered in dark tones and recalls Ásgrímur’s early works. The artist makes effective use of the interplay between light and shadow, setting the deep blue hues of the river and mountain against the pale whites of the ice. Vigorous brushstrokes generate tension across the picture plane. In these early folktale paintings, Ásgrímur’s sincere fascination with his subject is evident. Icelandic folktales often appear to emerge directly from the landscape itself. Ásgrímur produced several versions of this moment in the story, frequently revisiting the same motif and working across different media, including oil paintings, watercolours, and drawings.