The bear picture in Midsommar

The picture of the little girl kissing a bear on the nose on Dani’s wall in Midsommar is by Swedish artist John Bauer.

He illustrated the country’s trove of fairy tales.

 

The image of a young girl with a crown kissing a bear on the nose is called Stackars lilla basse! which translates to “poor little bear,” a crucial visual hint of what is to happen at the end of Midsommar that involves a woman, a crown, and a bear.

 

John Albert Bauer was a Swedish painter and illustrator. His work is concerned with landscape and mythology, but he also composed portraits. He is best known for his illustrations of early editions of Bland tomtar och troll, an anthology of Swedish folklore and fairy tales. Bauer was born and raised in Jönköping.