Illustration til "Lille Claus og store Claus" i H.C. Andersen, "Eventyr og Historier", Bind 1 1870 - 1873

This illustration for Hans Christian Andersen’s “Little Claus and Big Claus” was made by H.P. Hansen sometime in the mid-19th century. The image encapsulates the story’s dark humor and its commentary on social inequality. Hansen's illustration gains much of its meaning from the cultural context of 19th-century Denmark. At the time, the country was undergoing significant social and economic changes, with a growing gap between the wealthy elite and the impoverished peasantry. Andersen's tale, and consequently Hansen's illustration, taps into this societal tension, portraying the exploitation and the brutal realities faced by the lower classes. The image depicts a moment of deception and violence, reflecting a society where justice and fairness were often skewed in favor of the powerful. To fully appreciate the illustration, one might delve into the history of Danish literature and social criticism of the time. Through such research, we see art not as existing in a vacuum, but as part of a wider cultural conversation that is crucial to our understanding.