From the reign of King Karl XIV Johan, and more or less throughout the 19th century, visual arts played an important role in the political manifestation of the natural resources and territory of the Norwegian-Swedish union. This project was launched with paintings by artists such as Peder Balke, Carl Johan Fahlcrantz and Thomas Fearnley. The purpose of these works was often to present certain historically significant buildings or monuments. Over time, however, these union paintings developed towards a more romantically-oriented nationalism. Hans Fredrik Gude’s study from the inner Oslofjord is a fine example of this. Rather than the plains and hills, the artist focuses his attention on the stillness and the experience of his own presence.