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

This is H.P. Hansen’s illustration for Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Snow Queen," made in the 19th century. The monochromatic scene bustles with grotesque figures, their contorted bodies filling the small page. Notice how Hansen uses the sharp, precise lines of engraving to create a sense of chaotic energy. The composition teeters on the edge of imbalance as these creatures carry a mirror, their distorted reflections a key theme in the fairy tale. The mirror, fractured and manipulated, symbolizes a world where perception is skewed and truth is elusive. The artist draws upon elements of the grotesque, challenging conventional notions of beauty and order. The engraving acts as a visual metaphor for the fractured nature of reality itself. Hansen uses form to explore how stories dismantle fixed meanings, inviting us to question the very categories through which we understand the world. This piece is not just an illustration; it's an invitation to interpret and reinterpret.