Berthe Tuppenhaugs Fortællinger 1829 - 1899

H.P. Hansen’s “Berthe Tuppenhaugs Fortællinger” is an illustration teeming with symbols that resonate deeply within the cultural landscape of 19th-century storytelling. The most striking element is the slain wolf, a powerful symbol of wilderness and danger subdued, laying at the feet of domestic life. Notice the pointing gesture of the seated man, this motif echoes through centuries, from classical oratory to religious art, signifying the act of storytelling and the transmission of knowledge. The act of tending to a wound connects this scene to images of healing found in religious art. The healing gesture transcends time, connecting to images of Pietà, and expressing compassion, a recurring theme that taps into our collective memory and subconscious need for care and protection. These symbols – the defeated wolf, the storyteller’s hand, and the healing touch – are not static; they evolve, adapting to cultural shifts, yet their core meanings remain tethered to our shared human experience.