Illustrationsudkast til H.C. Andersen, Pigen, som traadte på Brødet 1869 - 1873

This is a pencil sketch made by Lorenz Frølich, an illustration draft for Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, ‘The Girl Who Trod on the Bread.' The medium of pencil allows for a directness and ease of execution, suiting the purpose of sketching out initial ideas. Look at the rapid, thin lines, which capture the fleeting movement and emotion of the figures, embodying a sense of spontaneity. The artist has created depth through layering and hatching, enhancing the contours of the forms, and conveying the weight of the figures within the composition. In the 19th century, a sketch such as this was a crucial stage in the industrialized production of images, lying behind the wood engravings used for mass distribution of Andersen’s stories. Through Frølich’s hand we can glimpse a complex interplay of labor, from the artist in his studio to the wood engraver translating the sketch into a reproducible image. This gives form to a narrative exploring themes of morality and humility within a rapidly changing society. By considering the processes and materials used, we can understand the full meaning of the artwork and challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.