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

This is H.P. Hansen’s illustration for Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, "The Elder Tree Mother," crafted in the mid-19th century. Hansen, who lived through Denmark's transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional democracy, would have likely understood the power of storytelling as a means of shaping cultural values. Note how Hansen depicts the children in mid-flight, seemingly weightless as they straddle what appears to be a broom. The ungendered robes and the similar haircuts seem to suggest an androgynous representation. This could reflect the Romantic era's fascination with blurring gender lines, or perhaps it points to the transformative potential inherent in Andersen's fairy tales. These tales, while seemingly innocent, often challenged the rigid social norms of the time. This piece draws us into a world where imagination and childhood innocence take flight, inviting us to reconsider the boundaries we impose on ourselves and others.