Illustration til "Halvhundrede Fabler for Børn" af Hey 1834

This illustration for "Halvhundrede Fabler for Børn" (Fifty Fables for Children) was made by Martinus Rørbye using pen and ink. It's a modest medium, really, but perfectly suited for a children’s book. The limited tonal range creates a stark contrast, making the figures pop against the light background. Pen and ink work requires a deliberate approach. Each line is carefully placed, and the image is built up gradually, demanding a level of precision which is hard to achieve. Look at the way Rørbye varies the density of lines to create shading and volume, giving the figures a sense of depth. It's interesting to see how Rørbye combined his artistic practice with the commercial demands of book illustration. The drawing depicts the everyday life of rural Denmark, reflecting the social context in which the fables would have been read. It demonstrates how art can be both a means of personal expression and a form of communication, accessible to a wide audience. Hopefully it inspired children, and adults, to think about social reality.