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

H. P. Hansen made this illustration for Hans Christian Andersen's "The Tinderbox" in Denmark sometime in the mid-19th century. The seemingly simple image, rendered in delicate lines, offers a fascinating window into the cultural values of the time. Consider the choice of subject: a grasshopper. In Andersen's tale, the grasshopper represents superficiality and a lack of foresight, qualities that would have resonated deeply with the emerging middle class of 19th-century Denmark. The story critiques a society increasingly obsessed with material wealth and social climbing, embodied by the feckless grasshopper. Hansen's illustration, therefore, isn't merely a depiction of an insect. It's a visual commentary on the social anxieties of a rapidly changing society. To fully appreciate this image, we might delve into publications of the time, exploring the essays and debates that shaped public opinion. By examining these sources, we can understand how art served as a mirror, reflecting and challenging the norms of its era.