De to Venner. Illustration til H.V. Kaalund, "Fabler for Børn" 1866

H.P. Hansen created this illustration for H.V. Kaalund’s "Fabler for Børn," sometime in the 19th century. The image depicts a dog and cat, curled up together in an unlikely, yet peaceful embrace. Made in Denmark, this fable underscores the romantic nationalist project that emphasizes unity. The print accompanies a poem about how a dog and cat can grow up together, sharing food and playing together. The verse dismisses any natural animosity between them, and suggests it’s nurture, not nature, that makes enemies of the two. The fable’s emphasis on unity speaks to the social conditions of its time. After the Napoleonic wars, Denmark lost territory and looked to cultural production to unify the country and create a shared national identity. To understand this image fully, a historian might look at the influence of romantic nationalism on Danish children’s literature or the shifting status of pets in middle-class homes. We can better understand art when we consider the social and institutional contexts in which it was made.