Peter Nicolai Arbo: The Wild Hunt of Odin (1872)

A dramatic Norwegian art poster featuring Peter Nicolai Arbo's The Wild Hunt of Odin from 1872. Riders, gods and restless spirits surge across the night sky in one of the most powerful paintings inspired by Norse mythology and Norwegian folklore.

Printed locally on heavyweight matte paper, as close to you as possible. Typical delivery time: 2–5 business days.

• Mythological masterpiece by Peter Nicolai Arbo
• Painted in 1872
• Inspired by the Norwegian legend of Åsgårdsreien
• Dramatic horses, spectral riders and storm-lit clouds
• Printed on 200 gsm premium matte paper
• FSC-certified paper from responsibly managed sources
• Available in five sizes
• Frame not included

A storm of riders across the sky

A dark procession tears through the clouds above a moonlit landscape. Horses rear and charge, cloaks whip in the wind, and spectral figures press forward through smoke and cold light. Arbo gives the scene the force of a violent storm, with the entire composition moving diagonally across the canvas.

The painting draws the eye from the frightened human figures below towards the supernatural hunt overhead. Light breaks through the darkness in sharp flashes, revealing faces, weapons, ravens and straining horses before they disappear into shadow again.

The Wild Hunt in Norwegian folklore

Åsgårdsreien, also known in older tradition as Oskoreia, was imagined as a dangerous band of dead souls riding through the night. The procession was especially associated with the dark part of the year and the period around Christmas. Anyone who heard it approaching was advised to seek shelter.

According to the National Museum of Norway, Arbo combined folklore, Norse mythology, archaeological knowledge and National Romantic poetry when developing the motif.

“Through the nightly air stampedes a train of frothing black horses.”

Welhaven's poem and Arbo's vision

Johan Sebastian Welhaven's poem Asgaardsreien helped popularise the legend during the nineteenth century. Arbo transformed the poem's rushing horses and ghostly company into a monumental image that could be read as folklore, mythology and national history at once.

The final painting includes Odin's ravens and Thor, who drives forward with his hammer raised while the goats Tanngnjost and Tanngrisne pull his chariot. The host surrounding them consists of mythical figures and restless dead, woven together in a scene shaped by nineteenth-century ideas about the Nordic past.

From early study to monumental painting

Arbo explored the subject over several years. An early study dates from around 1861, and he completed a large version in 1868. The best-known painting was created in Paris in 1872 and acquired by the National Museum that same year.

The finished work measures more than two metres across. Its scale, turbulent movement and theatrical contrasts helped make Åsgårdsreien one of Arbo's principal works and one of the defining images of Norwegian National Romanticism.

About Peter Nicolai Arbo

Peter Nicolai Arbo was born at Gulskogen near Drammen in 1831. He studied in Copenhagen and Düsseldorf and became known for historical and mythological scenes filled with horses, riders and intense movement.

Arbo lived in Paris from 1863 to 1874, where French history and battle painting influenced his compositions. Åsgårdsreien and Valkyrie are among his best-known works. Read more in Store norske leksikon's biography of Peter Nicolai Arbo.

Artwork details

Available sizes

Norse mythology for a distinctive interior

The deep blue-black sky, fiery highlights and racing figures give this poster a commanding presence. It works especially well in a living room, study, library or atmospheric gallery wall with dark wood, leather and natural textiles.

Discover more historical paintings and Nordic legends in our collection of Norwegian art.

Frequently asked questions

What is Åsgårdsreien?

Åsgårdsreien is the Norwegian form of the Wild Hunt, a supernatural procession of restless dead and mythical riders believed to travel through the night sky.

Who painted The Wild Hunt of Odin?

The painting was created by the Norwegian artist Peter Nicolai Arbo in 1872.

What inspired the painting?

Arbo drew on Norwegian folklore, Norse mythology, archaeological research and Johan Sebastian Welhaven's poem Asgaardsreien.

Where is the original painting?

The original belongs to the National Museum of Norway in Oslo and is registered as NG.M.00258.

What paper is the poster printed on?

The poster is printed on heavyweight 200 gsm matte paper with a smooth, non-reflective surface.

Is a frame included?

No. The frame is not included, allowing you to choose one that suits the poster and your interior.