Illustration til "En Rose fra Homers Grav" i H.C. Andersen, "Eventyr og Historier", Bind 1 1870 - 1873

This small illustration, "En Rose fra Homers Grav," was created by H.P. Hansen as part of Hans Christian Andersen’s "Eventyr og Historier". It is made with an engraving technique, where the image is incised onto a metal plate, inked, and then printed. The choice of engraving is significant. It’s a method that allows for incredibly fine detail, as you can see in the delicate lines defining the pages and the rose. The image is made with an industrial process which is reproductive by nature. It allowed illustrations to be efficiently and affordably included in printed books, making art accessible to a wider audience. This contrasts with the romantic subject matter of the story and emphasizes the commercial aspect of storytelling. The image is humble and simple, yet the process is deeply intertwined with the rise of mass production and the democratization of art, reminding us that even the most delicate images have roots in the broader world of labor and technology.