Illustration til "Halvhundrede Fabler for Børn" af Hey 1834

Editor: Here we have Martinus Rørbye's "Illustration til 'Halvhundrede Fabler for Børn' af Hey," created in 1834 using ink and engraving. It looks like a dynamic scene—a deer and a dog leaping through the woods. What strikes me is the contrast between the crisp detail in the foreground and the hazier background. What do you make of it? Curator: What a charming scene! The frenzy! For me, it's as if Rørbye is playing with this fable, reminding us of the raw, beautiful chaos of nature. You have the primal chase beautifully rendered, with incredible depth achieved simply through line work. Notice how the cross-hatching intensifies in the shadows, creating volume and drama. And the delicate rendering of the trees creates a nice balance to the heavier detail of the animals. Editor: It’s almost like you can hear the animals running through the woods! Why choose such a stark, almost scientific approach to illustrating a children’s fable? Curator: Think about what fables do, though. At their heart, they hold the bittersweet lessons about life, don’t they? Rørbye’s realism – some might even say, coldness of his meticulous technique -- amplifies the naturalism of the story, taking it out of pure fantasy and lodging it into something a bit… wilder. What do you think, do you think that choice affects the reading of the image? Editor: I think so! It almost feels less like a comforting tale and more like a snapshot of actual wilderness, danger and all! I really appreciate the detail you pointed out in the lines – it gives so much more depth! Curator: It has certainly made me think about fairy tales, and children stories differently. To view this little work – is to reconsider childhood itself.