“Mama, come back!” That’s what the bronze figures seem to cry out. These figures comprise the Morgensang Sculpture. The sculpture is also known as Agnete and the Merman. It tells a poignant tale of love, loss, and longing.
Agnete and the Merman is a group of bronze sculptures. They are located underwater in the Slotsholm Canal next to the Højbro Bridge in Copenhagen. Some say it is one of Copenhagen’s least-known artworks. Danish sculptor Suste Bonnen created the Morgensang Sculpture in 1992. It portrays a merman and his seven sons. Their arms are outstretched. They beg Agnete to return home.
The story of Agnete and the Merman is a popular one. It is from Danish folklore. Mermaids and mermen are recurring figures in traditional Danish lore. The sculptures symbolize the cultural importance of Danish folklore to Copenhagen.
The original ballad “Agnete and the Merman” passed through word of mouth for generations. Hans Christian Andersen also wrote about mermaids. He wrote the popular story “The Little Mermaid”. It inspired the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen.
The tale says Agnete was a pretty young village girl. One day, a merman emerged from the waves. She was instantly smitten with him. He asked for her hand. Agnete accepted. She went into the water to live with him. They lived happily ever after and had seven sons.
One day, Agnete heard church bells. Homesickness struck. She begged the merman to let her go to church. He agreed reluctantly. He made her promise to return after the service.
At church, Agnete saw her mother. She learned her father had died of sorrow. He had searched for her for many years. Agnete forgot her love for the merman and her children. She decided to stay and return to her life on land.
In some versions, the merman pleads with her. He tells her the children are crying. But she brushes him aside. She leaves with her mother.
The merman returns to the sea and his children. Agnete never sees them again. Her water-logged family never stops missing her.
Suste Bonnen used bronze to tell this story of loss. She fittingly placed the figures under the water. The merman and his sad children stand there. They are among the reeds and waving mosses. Some bury their faces. Others reach toward the surface. They plead endlessly for their mama’s return.
The Slotsholm Canal is the perfect setting. The water swirls and ripples. It is sometimes milky with reflected clouds. The scene looks like a fleeting memory.
It’s easy to miss Agnete and the Merman. Many tour boats pass by. They keep the water rippled. But stand on the bridge. Wait for the water to still. Or wait for the sunlight to shift. You can bring the merman and his lonely children into view.
In the evenings, the statue is lit a ghostly blue-green. Sometimes it is lit golden yellow. The darkness makes the statues even more poignant. The figures seem to undulate. They keen in the glow of the underwater lights.
When you get home, your friends will mention The Little Mermaid. But you will have seen the mourning family. They live under the water in the Morgensang Sculpture. Your friends will want to return. They will want to see this unusual sight. They will want to visit the emblem of longing.