Brev fra Syberg til Ingeniør J. Rump 1931

This letter from Fritz Syberg to J. Rump, was created in 1931, and combines text with drawings. Syberg, writing from Pilegaarden, asks to borrow Rump's copy of “Fremtidens lille Bog”, an anthology of H.C. Andersen's fairy tales illustrated with Syberg's drawings. Syberg, who came from a poor background, understood social inequality intimately, which deeply informed his artistic perspective. With its loose, gestural style, the sketches at the bottom show figures in landscapes, perhaps illustrations for the book. These anonymous figures remind us that fairytales, ostensibly for children, often serve to normalize societal roles. The female figures, bent over and small in the landscape, imply a certain social positioning. Here, Syberg’s personal request intertwines with broader cultural narratives. The letter prompts us to consider the artist's world, his struggles, and the societal structures that shaped his and others’ experiences. It asks: whose stories are told, and how are they told?