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

This is an illustration for Hans Christian Andersen’s tale "Ib and Little Christine" made by H.P. Hansen in nineteenth-century Denmark. The image depicts a tender moment between a man and a child, reflecting the sentimental and moralizing themes common in Victorian-era art and literature. Illustrations like these played a crucial role in shaping public perceptions of literature and culture. In a society where literacy was increasing, illustrated books made stories accessible to a broader audience, including children. The image's visual codes – the domestic interior, the man's gentle expression, and the child's innocent gesture – all underscore values of family and domesticity. To understand this image fully, we can research the history of Danish book illustration, the reception of Andersen's fairy tales, and the social history of childhood in 19th century Denmark. By doing so, we reveal the complex ways in which art reflects and shapes social values.