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

H.P. Hansen created this illustration for Hans Christian Andersen's "The Daisy" using pen and ink. The image shows two boys with a bird. One boy holds the bird in his hands, while the other sits next to a cage. This illustration, made in 19th century Denmark, speaks to the cultural values placed on childhood innocence and the treatment of nature, values that were especially being formed in that moment. The boys' interaction with the bird could be seen as a commentary on the relationship between humans and the natural world, a theme prominent in Andersen's fairy tales. Was this meant as an affirmation of childhood innocence or a veiled critique of institutionalized cruelty? Looking deeper, we could research Danish social norms and the prevailing attitudes toward children during the 1800's to further contextualize the illustration's social meaning. Understanding these influences allows us to see art not as isolated objects, but as products of cultural and institutional forces.