Konen og Hesten. Illustration til H.V. Kaalund, "Fabler for Børn" 1866

This illustration to H.V. Kaalund's "Fabler for Børn" was made by H.P. Hansen using ink on paper. A woman carrying a pile of sticks on her back stands beside a horse amidst a dense forest. Notice how Hansen uses dense cross-hatching to build up the textures of the bark, the horse's coat, and the woman's dress. The intricate network of lines creates a sense of depth and tactile richness. The composition uses strong verticals in the form of the tree to frame the figures, adding a structured, almost architectural element to the scene. Hansen uses the graphic qualities of ink to create a study of tonal contrasts. The interplay between light and dark, shadow and illumination, isn’t merely descriptive; it creates a semiotic framework, a symbolic language that invites us to decode the visual elements and cultural codes that resonate within the artwork. The structure of the composition and the tactile use of line work operate to highlight a dialogue between form and meaning.