Artefacts, Afterlives, and the Material Traces of Emilie Högqvist (1812–1846), a Swedish Icon of Romanticism

Summary: This article examines a selection of artefacts either owned by or associated with the actress, courtesan, and salonnière Emilie Högqvist (1812–1846). The aim is to explore Högqvist’s legacy by engaging with non-canonical sources located in archives, museums, and a private collection. Drawing on Michelle Caswell’s and Marika Cifor’s theoretical concept of radical empathy, David Dunér’s notion of cognitive history, and Staffan Bergwik’s method of re-contextualization, the analysis is grounded in the author’s own positionality. By “thinking with” the artefacts and attending to the affective and cognitive responses they elicit, the article reflects on the layered meanings embedded in these objects. In doing so, it contributes to the body of knowledge surrounding Högqvist, the enduring impact of her posthumous legacy, and the broader cultural context of the Romantic era in Sweden.