Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana. Supplementum - 01.06.1958, Side 301

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why Wimmer’s work found a successor within no more than a generation after its completion
was the technical progress of the age.
Chapíer 20. “Danmarks Runeindskrifler”. Ailas, p. 262-264. The essentials of the ideal atlas
for runes are outlined. The most important thing is an objective reproduction of inscriptions (a
photograph of the unretouched stone) paired with instructive aids (photographs of the retouched
stone, photographs of casts, rubbings or drawings), so that the user is in no doubt about prob-
lematical points. This standard has not been reached by the DR atlas; the pictures of its runes
are either the autlior’s or else have beeri produced under his direction. Even if it contains nu-
merous photographs of unretouched stones, which because of their legibility make any visit to
the monument itself superfluous, there are others which only “cover” a few runes in an inscrip-
tion. Photography of unretouched stones, such as is practised in the DR atlas, is a compromise,
since as a rule it is done in static light which in the nature of things cannot be equally favourable
for all runic symbols or staves. A number of the photographs, however, could be improved upon
if attempted again. It is emphasised that with the technique of modern times it is not possible
to give a “legible” photograph of an unretouched, very weathered inscription, but that a photo-
graph of an unretouched, difficult inscription often provides reliable help for the reading, since
the considerable reduction can make a contribution towards clarifying what was difficult to
distinguish on the monument itself.
Photographs of retouched monuments are criticised for their artistic standards; the author
admits that his skill in drawing approximates to that of Skonvig. This has been to the detriment
of the lilhoglyplis such as Plunnestad, Tullstorp etc. The photograph of the retouched stone,
however, gives a certainty of reading and conception which cannot always be obtained from the
photograph of the unretouched stone, since the individual runes are emphasised under far more
favourable circumstances than are possible in tlie case of the latter, where the detail must give
way to the whole. By retouching, the source of light is moved to the most favourable angle for
each rune-stave.—The use of half-tone blocks in an epigraphic work is criticised, especially those
which have been scraped out, since the scraping cannot avoid damaging the contours. Finally
the objectivity of the photographic atlas is emphasised in contrast to the consistent subjectivity
of earlier works.
Conclusion, p. 265-267. A short survey is given of the subjects dealt with, and the conjecture
advanced that the next atlas for runes will be characterised by colour photography, which will
provide an independent contribution to the reading, and by three-dimensional photography.
These two will combine in due course of time into three-dimensional colour photography. In
addition the hope is expressed that the future will be able to register the molecular changes
which must, have taken place in the granite rock under the blows of the rune-hammer.