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

This illustration for Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Nightingale" is by H.P. Hansen. It captures a courtly procession through line work with an emphasis on form and movement. Hansen's composition uses the visual language of procession to explore themes of power and authority. The characters move from left to right, drawing the viewer's eye across the scene. The weight of the composition is anchored by the figure on the left gesturing outwards, balanced by the figures to the right, all converging on the central character under the parasol. The piece operates within a semiotic system. The parasol acts as a signifier of status, and the various robes and hats communicate social roles. However, Hansen’s use of line also destabilizes the scene. Note the almost frenetic hatching around the edges of the drawing. It suggests a world beyond the immediate court, hinting at the natural world where the real nightingale sings. The tension between the static nature of the court and the implied movement of the hatching ultimately functions as a critical reflection on the value systems within the fairy tale.