This study examines the work of art in the underground station Kungsträdgården in Stockholm and discusses the observers interpretation of the art in the station. When the artist Ulrik Samuelson got his commission to shape the station he was influenced by Marcel Duchamp and the concept art. Two themes were integrated in the work of art, the actual culture life and the palace called Makalös, which was situated just above the currant station, three hundred years ago. The station was built in two stages.
The first part was opened in 1977 and the second part in 1987. Panofsky´s iconographic working method has been used in this essay. Accurate observations of the work of art and relevant literature studies are described in the study. Samuelson’s work has a lot of references to currant culture, social and political life of the time as well as so called ready-mades from Stockholm and artefacts from Makalös.
The observers understanding of the work of art is dependent on for example the observers age and knowledge. The parts that were present thirty years ago were known by people at that time but are hardly known by anybody nowadays. The modern young observers may not interpret every part of the numerous things and symbols although this will probably not prevent them to enjoy the work of art as a highly artistic production.