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

H.P. Hansen created this illustration for Hans Christian Andersen's "The Tinderbox," part of "Fairy Tales and Stories, Volume 1." In this monochromatic scene, we witness a pivotal moment where a soldier is being helped up a tree. Hansen's work offers a window into the 19th-century Danish cultural landscape, steeped in storytelling and moral lessons. As a piece illustrating a popular fairy tale, it resonates with themes of social mobility, courage, and the supernatural, reflecting the era's fascination with folklore and the human condition. Consider how Andersen used fairy tales to explore societal structures, and how Hansen’s illustrations would have shaped the story’s reception. It invites us to reflect on the enduring appeal of fairy tales and their power to convey complex truths about ourselves and the world around us.