Illustrationsudkast til H.C. Andersen, "Hurtigløberne" og "Hvad Fatter gør er altid det Rigtige" 1866

Lorenz Frølich created this pencil sketch as a draft illustration for Hans Christian Andersen’s stories sometime in the 19th century. In northern Europe at this time, the popularization of fairy tales served an important cultural function. Tales that had once been passed down through oral tradition were now being written down, illustrated, and marketed to a wider reading public. Fairy tales became vehicles for instructing children in the values of family, nation, and religion. Notice how Frølich depicts farm animals in the top register and a dressed up Donkey speaking to a rabbit. This is a composition that domesticates the rural landscape while also representing it as a place of wonder and talking animals. To understand the significance of Frølich’s illustration, we can look to publications from the period, including illustrated books and periodicals. We might also consult educational treatises or religious instruction manuals. Art like this played a vital role in shaping social values.