Vogterdrengen. Illustration til H.V. Kaalund, "Fabler for Børn" 1866

This illustration to H.V. Kaalund's "Fabler for Børn" was created by H.P. Hansen using an unconfirmed medium and date. The vertical composition is divided into two distinct zones: the illustrative scene above and the poem below. Notice how the illustrative part uses stark contrasts of black ink on the white paper to create depth and texture, the lines defining the trees, sheep, and the shepherd boy. The poem employs a different kind of structure, using rhythmic arrangements of text to create its own visual pattern. The trees dominate the landscape, framing the smaller figures of the boy and his sheep. The poem mirrors this structure, framing the narrative with its own set of linguistic and visual cues. This strategic arrangement invites us to consider how these elements function as signs within a broader cultural code, reflecting on themes of nature, childhood, and social class.