Illustration til: "Hr. Mikkel" 1858

Editor: This is H.C. Henneberg's "Illustration til: 'Hr. Mikkel'," created in 1858. It’s an ink drawing and woodcut, and I’m struck by how detailed and intimate it feels for a print. The little fox cubs huddling together create such a tender moment, even though it's set within a very graphic, almost stark landscape. What are your thoughts on this piece? Curator: This illustration gives us insight into the popular cultural fascination with anthropomorphism and nature in the mid-19th century. Henneberg positions the viewer as a sort of unobtrusive observer, but this idealization of "untouched" nature, particularly within the context of rapid urbanization, says a lot about anxieties of the period. What do you think of the fox's almost human-like pose and expression? Editor: I see what you mean. The fox seems to have a very stoic and human demeanor as it guards its cubs, which does feel intentional considering its use as an illustration. How might the intended audience have shaped the artistic choices made? Curator: Given that it is an illustration from a book, the aim was clearly to convey a certain moral lesson or social commentary through an easily digestible image, therefore the scene would've needed to be accessible and resonate with middle-class sensibilities. So the choice of such detailed, almost sentimental imagery, while depicting a 'wild' scene becomes interesting, doesn't it? What does this tell us about public perceptions of animals during that time? Editor: Right, it’s like domesticating the wild, maybe? Seeing human traits in animals made them more relatable, reflecting Victorian values of family and care. Thank you, this helps see how culture shapes even simple illustrations. Curator: Indeed. The seemingly straightforward image contains layers of socio-historical information, mirroring the anxieties and ideals of its time.