Illustrationsudkast til H.C. Andersen, Skarnbassen 1867

Lorenz Frølich sketched this illustration for Hans Christian Andersen's "The Beetle" with pencil on paper. The dung beetle, a symbol of persistence and transformation, takes center stage. In ancient Egypt, the scarab beetle was revered, pushing the sun across the sky, embodying rebirth. Yet, here, its humble role is highlighted, a common creature elevated in Andersen's narrative. Consider how this motif recurs throughout art history—from religious iconography to folklore. The image resonates with the cycles of nature and our own internal processes of change and adaptation. Just as the beetle transforms waste into something new, the creative spirit transmutes experience into art. Here, the interplay between nature and symbolism invites us to contemplate the cyclical nature of life.