Illustration til "Hørren" i H.C. Andersen, "Eventyr og Historier", Bind 2 1870 - 1873

H.P. Hansen created this illustration for Hans Christian Andersen’s tale "The Flax" using engraving, a medium that allowed for the wide distribution of images, influencing how stories reached audiences. Here, we see a woman and a group of children peering into what might be a window. Hansen’s work reflects the 19th-century interest in domestic scenes, but it also hints at the social dynamics within those spaces. Consider the role of women and children; Andersen's stories often explore themes of transformation and identity, reflecting the period's changing social landscape. How do the dynamics of observation play out here? The act of looking, of witnessing a story unfold, becomes a shared experience, connecting us to the past and to each other. This image invites us to reflect on the stories we tell, and how they shape our understanding of the world.