To illustrationsudkast til H.C. Andersen, Tolv med Posten 1866 - 1867

This is a pen and ink drawing by Lorenz Frølich, a draft illustration for Hans Christian Andersen's "Twelve by the Mail". It's full of figures embodying the months of the year. Notice the symbolic weight carried by Father January, depicted as old and burdened, and the buoyant figures representing the warmer months. These archetypes echo across cultures, linking to ancient Roman depictions of Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings and transitions, often associated with January. The cyclical nature of time, and the symbolic death and rebirth of the seasons is captured here. It’s a motif repeated through epochs—consider harvest celebrations, where the old is ritually sacrificed to ensure future abundance. This illustration is not merely a depiction, but a potent reminder of our shared, timeless human experiences, engaging with the subconscious understanding of time's relentless, cyclical march.