Kronborg Castle -
A photo exhibition at Kronborg Castle
When you step into the exhibition MOTHERS // DAUGHTERS, the historical halls of Kronborg unfold as a setting for a universal theme: the relationship between mothers and daughters. Here, contemporary voices are interwoven with historical narratives, and portraits and quotes invite reflection on how motherhood and daughterhood have shaped women's lives – then and now.
1.
Contemporary women – strong voices
Photographer Vibe Juul Sannig is behind the exhibition's pictures. She has previously published the book Women, Mothers & Daughters, where 15 well-known women and their daughters share their experiences with joy, doubt, love, and grief in the mother-daughter relationship. At Kronborg, the portraits are presented in a new context, where they converse with stories from the past.
Lone Hertz, actress & daughter Maria
2.
Women of the Past – New Perspectives
Especially for the exhibition, Vibe Juul Sannig has created four new photographs, where contemporary women portray prominent figures from the castle's history: Kirsten Munk and her mother Ellen Marsvin, as well as Caroline Mathilde and her daughter Sophie Auguste. Their stories provide insight into a time when women's lives and relationships were closely linked with power, marriage, and societal demands.
3.
Themes across time
The exhibition embraces both the beautiful and the difficult aspects of the mother-daughter relationship. Love, closeness, and care stand side by side with fear, loss, guilt, and emancipation. The portraits and personal narratives provide a powerful reminder of how the mother-daughter relationship can be a source of solidarity, conflict, and change – across centuries.
MOTHERS // DAUGHTERS turns Kronborg into a stage for both the grand historical narratives and the intimate, recognizable experiences that continue to shape women's lives today.
Ditte Okman, journalist/podcast host & daughter Betty
