“Lo, there do I see my father; Lo, there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers; Lo, there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning. Lo, they do call to me, they bid me take my place among them, in the halls of Valhalla, where the brave may live forever.”
I’ve always been fascinated by Valkyries and the rich myths built around them that dates back to at least the 13th century. In Norse mythology, the Valkyrie possessed the ultimate power – to choose those who would live and die in battle. After a battle, they would take the fallen to Valhalla, the hall of the slain in the afterlife, ruled by the god Odin. While we may see the task as a grim one, the Valkyries exhibited the resolve necessary to complete it nonetheless.
With this collection, I tried to capture the quiet power and regal beauty of the Valkyrie using a number of artistic styles ranging from baroque to romantic to even post-apocalyptic, with a real-world edge that I hope exemplifies the strength and character of each woman depicted.
If you’d like to see more of my work depicting strong, beautiful archetypes, please follow me on Facebook (sivousplay) or on Instagram (@si.vous.play).
