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

This is H.P. Hansen’s undated illustration for "The Pact of Friendship" by H.C. Andersen, rendered in ink on paper. Hansen, working in 19th-century Denmark, captures a scene rife with the romanticism and orientalism popular at the time. The image depicts a woman, possibly of Middle Eastern origin given the attire, presiding over what seems to be a friendship ceremony between two men. Their clasped hands, the woman's raised hand, and the solemn expressions suggest a binding agreement. Yet, this moment is laden with the power dynamics of its era. The woman, though central, is framed within the male-dominated rituals of friendship and loyalty, underscoring the limited roles often assigned to women in such historical contexts. The presence of a veiled figure in the background hints at the broader cultural narratives that framed understandings of the ‘Orient’ in European imaginations, blending fascination with a sense of otherness. This image is a window into how 19th-century artists mediated cultural encounters, layered with gendered and racialized perspectives.