Illustration til "Lykkens Kalosker" i H.C. Andersen, "Eventyr og Historier", Bind 1 1870 - 1873

H. P. Hansen made this Illustration for Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Galoshes of Fortune" in Denmark, sometime in the 19th century. It depicts three men in a carriage, all wearing hats and coats, and all gazing out of the window. This image creates meaning through the visual codes of 19th-century Danish society. The men's clothing and hats suggest they belong to the middle or upper class, able to afford travel and respectable attire. The carriage represents technological progress and social mobility, while the landscape outside the window hints at the allure of travel and adventure. As an illustration for a fairy tale, it blends realism with the fantastic, commenting on the social structures of its time by juxtaposing everyday life with the extraordinary. Historians researching this artwork might consult Andersen's stories, period newspapers, and social histories of Denmark to understand its context better. The meaning of this art hinges on its social and institutional environment.