This exquisite chess set, known as the Lewis Chessmen, is a replica from the British Library. The original pieces, discovered in 1831 on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, were believed to have been carved in Trondheim, Norway, between 1150 and 1200. Made from walrus ivory and whale tooth, luxury materials at the time, their detailed carvings reflect Norwegian artistic traditions. Today, the chessmen are famous for their expressive faces and roles, kings, queens, bishops, knights, and warders, each evoking a frozen moment of strategic tension.
In reflecting on the meaning embedded in these chess pieces, we were reminded of another work shaped by strategy and suspense: Checkmate, a painting by Friedrich Moritz August Retzsch.
The painting portrays a dramatic chess match between a man and satan. At first glance, satan appears to be winning and the man looks defeated, but closer analysis reveals that a winning move still exists. This interpretation transforms the painting into a metaphor not only for perception and critical thinking, but for the larger game of life and death.
By displaying the Lewis Chessmen to mirror the composition in Checkmate, we reflect on how both artifacts, one a historical object, the other a conceptual artwork, explore enduring themes of strategy, conflict, uncertainty, and the possibility of redemption. Each reminds us that even in the darkest moments, the next move might change everything.
References:
Phago, P. (2023). Decoding “Checkmate”, and how it relates to life. https://pratikphago.medium.com/decoding-checkmate-and-how-it-relates-to-life-90fa4b93d853
The Queen's Gambit: how the Lewis Chessmen won the world over, British Museum . Retrieved Feb 19, 2025, from https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/queens-gambit-how-lewis-chessmen-won-world-over
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