The Collection of Wonders

Pippi Longstocking’s Cabinet of Curiosities

Abstract

Astrid Lindgren’s and Ingrid Vang Nyman’s novels and picture books about Pippi Longstocking are filled with swarms of objects, both every-day items and exotic treasures, which are gathered around the main character in a jumbled and joyful disorder. In this article, the constellations of every-day objects and artefacts, food, and treasures are studied in relation to the tradition of still-life painting and the motif of curiosity cabinets. The article argues that the norm-breaking essence of Pippi Longstocking is expressed not only in the text but also by the way the interior of Pippi’s home is organized both spatially and materially. Furthermore, a self-reflective and intertextual context is brought to the fore. Here, art historian Victor Stoichita’s theoretical work will be used as a standing point for the analysis, alongside research about the text-image interaction in picture books and illustrated children’s literature. Lindgren’s unconventional character functions as a catalyst in the stories which highlight norms, standards and expectations. However, in doing so, the character herself is portrayed as strange, exotic, and curious – very similar to the strange and wonderful things surrounding her.