Illustration til "Gjordemoderen og Trolden" 1843

This illustration to "Gjordemoderen og Trolden" was made by H. C. Henneberg, using engraving, a printmaking process that relies on painstaking labor. See how the image is constructed from many tiny lines? These are incised directly into a metal plate with a tool called a burin. The act of engraving requires a great deal of skill and time, as the artist carefully carves away at the surface to create the desired image. The marks left by the burin create a crisp, precise line that is characteristic of the medium. It's not surprising that Henneberg chose this technique, as the story itself turns on the hard work of rural life. A midwife, pitchfork in hand, is presented as a figure of strength and determination. The print acknowledges the physical labor of women as they were caught between the drudgery of daily work and the world of folklore. Ultimately, this small engraving reminds us that even seemingly simple images are the product of skilled labor, artistic choice, and cultural context.