Illustration til "Historien om en Moder" i H.C. Andersen, "Eventyr og Historier", Bind 2 1870 - 1873

This illustration for Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Story of a Mother” was created by H.P. Hansen using engraving, a printmaking technique. The image is made by cutting lines into a metal plate, inking the plate, and then pressing paper against it. Engraving, unlike drawing, depends on a mechanical process to achieve its effect. Think of the engraver, bent over the plate with specialized tools, channeling their energy into a laborious activity. The crisp, precise lines that define the scene are a direct result of this focused work. They give the image a stark quality, a contrast between light and shadow. The narrative Hansen depicts – a mother pleading for the life of her child – aligns with the emotional intensity achieved through the engraving process. The image gains its power not only from the story it illustrates, but from the way it was produced. Considering the materials, making, and context allows us to fully understand the meaning of this artwork, challenging the boundary between fine art and craft.