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

This is H.P. Hansen's illustration for Hans Christian Andersen's "The Red Shoes." The tale, published in 1845, tells of a young peasant girl named Karen, who is adopted by an older woman and given a pair of red shoes. The shoes, initially a symbol of acceptance and upward mobility, become an object of sinful vanity when Karen wears them to church, defying social norms. Her obsession with the shoes leads to a literal and metaphorical dance with death. Here, Hansen captures Karen’s moment of repentance and prayer, her desperation palpable as she seeks redemption. But the story begs the question: is Karen's punishment a result of her vanity, or the rigid societal expectations placed upon women? Her desire for beauty and belonging becomes a dangerous transgression. Ultimately, "The Red Shoes" resonates as a cautionary, even tragic exploration of identity, desire, and the cost of social conformity.