Illustration til "Nabofamilierne" i H.C. Andersen, "Eventyr og Historier", Bind 2 1870 - 1873

H.P. Hansen created this illustration for Hans Christian Andersen's "Nabofamilierne" or "The Neighbouring Families". The story is a sentimental one of family, and Hansen's image reflects the values of the 19th-century Danish bourgeoisie. We see a modest waterside scene, ducks swim peacefully in a pond, close to vegetation and what looks like the ruin of a simple rural building. The story itself is about a plant, but this image is striking for what it doesn't show - the families that are neighbours. We see nature, but no people. Perhaps this is a comment on the idealised nature of family life, especially when viewed from the outside. To understand the social context of this image, we might look to periodicals and illustrated magazines from the time. These show the ways that artists and writers thought about how art could promote values and beliefs. The image seems to suggest that a good life is a simple one, close to nature, with families living in harmony.