The Mountain Gate (1918 CE)

John Bauer’s Bergaporten is a watercolor that draws viewers into the mystical world of Nordic folklore. This artwork, depicting a troll peering from behind a monumental gate with copper fittings, evokes the enchantment of Swedish forests and the timeless allure of fairy tales. Created as part of preparations for a ballet titled Bergakungen, the piece showcases Bauer’s distinctive style, blending romantic nationalism with vivid imagination, making it a striking representation of his artistic legacy.

Bergaporten was created in 1918, the final year of John Bauer’s life, by the Swedish artist born in Jönköping in 1882. Bauer, renowned for his illustrations in Bland Tomtar och Troll (1907–1915), a collection of Swedish fairy tales, studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts in Stockholm and traveled to Lappland, Germany, and Italy, experiences that shaped his romantic and nature-inspired style. The artwork emerged from a collaboration proposed by the celebrated Russian ballet master Michail Fokin during his 1913–1914 visit to Stockholm. Fokin envisioned a ballet, Bergakungen, based on Bauer’s fairy-tale illustrations, with Bauer tasked to write the libretto and design stage decorations. Tragically, Bauer’s death in a boat accident on Lake Vättern in November 1918, alongside his wife Ester and son Bengt, halted the project. The ballet premiered posthumously on January 7, 1923, at the Royal Swedish Opera, with music by Hugo Alfvén, but without Bauer’s direct involvement, leading to a legal dispute won by his family.

A fascinating anecdote surrounding Bergaporten relates to its connection with the Bergakungen ballet. Bauer was deeply invested in the project, enthusiastically drafting the libretto and creating sketches, including this artwork. However, his concerns about the ballet being produced without his input proved prescient. After his death, the Royal Swedish Opera proceeded with the production, using designs by Prince Eugen, J.A.G. Acke, and Anna Boberg, omitting any acknowledgment of Bauer’s contributions. This led to a lawsuit by Bauer’s brothers, which, after two years, affirmed his intellectual rights to the ballet’s concept. Additionally, the artwork’s exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in Stockholm in 1934, as part of a memorial show, and its sale for 350,000 SEK at auction highlight its enduring value and the public’s fascination with Bauer’s vision.

The artwork holds a significant place in Swedish cultural heritage, embodying the romantic nationalism of the early 20th century and the revival of Nordic folklore. Bauer’s illustrations, particularly for Bland Tomtar och Troll, shaped the modern perception of trolls as both menacing and mystical beings, influencing artists like Kay Nielsen and Brian Froud. The artwork’s connection to the Bergakungen ballet underscores Bauer’s ambition to transcend static illustrations, bringing his enchanted worlds to life through theater. The red gate, a central motif, symbolizes the threshold between the human and supernatural realms, a recurring theme in Nordic tales where nature triumphs over malevolent forces. The interplay of light and shadow in the painting reflects the saga’s narrative, where sunlight defeats the trolls, symbolizing hope and the power of nature.

Bergaporten is a watercolor painting with ink, gouache, and pencil on paper, measuring 23.5 x 24.5 cm (9.25 x 9.65 inches). The composition features a muted yet dramatic color palette of grey-red and bronze-green. The scene is framed by towering, column-like pine trees, creating a vertical emphasis that contrasts with the horizontal mass of the copper gate. Sunlight filters through the forest, illuminating the moss-covered rock and the troll, enhancing the mystical atmosphere. Bauer’s meticulous use of watercolor and ink captures the texture of the forest and the solidity of the gate, showcasing his mastery in blending realism with fantasy.

Created in 1918, the painting was part of Bauer’s preparatory work for the Bergakungen ballet. After his death, it was exhibited at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts in Stockholm in October 1934 as part of a memorial exhibition. It later appeared in the 2020–2021 exhibition Trollbunden: John Bauer och den magiska naturen at Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde. The painting was sold at auction for 350,000 SEK, reflecting its historical and artistic value. Its current location is not specified in available records, but its prominence in exhibitions and auctions underscores its status as a cherished piece of Swedish art.