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

This pen and ink drawing, created by Danish artist H.P. Hansen between 1870 and 1873, depicts a scene from Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairytale "The Little Mermaid". The illustration, which is part of the "Eventyr og Historier" collection, shows the mermaid reaching for a butterfly while her tail is submerged in water. Hansen’s detailed depiction of the mermaid's longing and her surroundings captures the essence of Andersen's poignant tale of love, sacrifice, and the yearning for the unknown. This small yet powerful illustration, now housed at the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, is a testament to the enduring power of Andersen’s stories and Hansen's talent for bringing them to life.