I am a fairly active member of online discussion forums around Swedish American culture, and Swedish culture in America. (There is a difference.)

This photo, or one similar, was posted in one of those groups. You see a painting by Anders Zorn, on display at Nationalmuseum, Stockholm. Below the painting are wooden horses, cut up and packaged as you would meat for sale in a supermarket.

Swedish American members of the online group were furious. They found the display disrespectful. Swedish members of the group, myself included, didn’t see disrespect but rather interpreted the display as a commentary on culture and art as commodities.

I find the difference interesting. It is as if symbols of Swedish culture are more important to those who don’t inhabit Swedish culture anymore.