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

This illustration for Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Flying Trunk" was made by H.P. Hansen. We see a princess with two attendants, one with a covered head and the other dark-skinned. The veil, a prominent symbol here, has journeyed through time. In ancient Greece, it was a mark of modesty, concealing women from public view. Yet, in other eras, the veil signified status, a luxurious fabric denoting wealth and power. It reappears in Renaissance portraits, subtly framing the face, and in the attire of nuns, representing spiritual devotion and separation from the secular world. The veil evokes complex psychological responses, concealing and revealing simultaneously, sparking curiosity and hinting at hidden depths. The artist taps into our collective memory, stirring subconscious associations. It reminds us that cultural symbols are never static but constantly evolving in a non-linear progression.