Thingvellir Landscape
The painting, Thingvellir Landscape, depicts a site of historical, cultural, and geological importance and is a popular Icelandic tourist destination. Established at Thingvellir was the Icelandic Parliament, or Althing, (English: Parliament Plains) in 930 CE and remained there until 1789. The site features a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and is also home to Thingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland. To protect its natural and cultural phenomenon, Thingvellir was designated a National Park in 1930 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
This gift was created by one of Iceland’s most beloved painters, Jo?hannes Sveinsson Kjarval (1885 – 1972), who pioneered Icelandic art in the 20th century. He was influenced by impressionism, expressionism, and cubism, where his abstract landscapes often focus on the foreground rather than the mountains in the background. His prolific work advanced awareness and pride in Iceland’s natural wonders.
The Government of Iceland gifted the painting to the United Nations on 8 October 1986 during the 41st session of the General Assembly. According to Ragnar Kristjansson of the Mission of Iceland to the United Nations, “the decision at the time to present this gift was taken suddenly and apparently there was no time to attach… a plate.” In 2005 a plaque was installed next to the painting to acknowledge the donor, author, and subject.
Althing, believed to be one of the world’s earliest democracies, was founded in Thingvellir as an annual open-air assembly of Iceland’s leaders who decided legislation and dispensed justice. The United Nations General Assembly shares many attributes with Althing.