Illustration til "Halvhundrede Fabler for Børn" af Hey 1834

This illustration for "Halvhundrede Fabler for Børn" was made by Martinus Rørbye, using pen and ink on paper. Look closely, and you'll see the artist’s hand in the intricate linework which defines the scene. The use of pen and ink, a traditional method, allows for detailed, precise imagery but it can also offer a kind of immediacy. The artist seems to capture a fleeting moment with the children, and invites us to reflect on our childhood fables, and even our own childhood behaviors. You can see how ink on paper renders texture and volume primarily through hatching and cross-hatching. This method gives depth to the characters and their surroundings, all with careful consideration of light and shadow. Though the materiality of this work seems simple, the artist’s labor is evident. This intimate medium speaks to a tradition far beyond fine art; it echoes manuscript illumination, early printed books, and the broader history of storytelling through images. Rørbye engages with these traditions, emphasizing the value of skill and narrative in visual culture.