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

This pen-and-ink illustration by H.P. Hansen, dating from 1870-1873, is a depiction of the final scene in Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairytale, "The Ugly Duckling." The drawing shows three swans, one of which is the formerly "ugly" duckling, as they gracefully swim in a lake. A group of children stand on the lakeshore, observing the beautiful birds. This particular illustration was created for a 19th-century edition of Andersen's works. Hansen's meticulous style highlights the delicate beauty of the swans and the natural world surrounding them, emphasizing the transformative power of acceptance and self-discovery.