To illustrationsudkast til H.C. Andersen, "Dynd-Kongens Datter" 1869

Curator: Well, this seems straight out of a fever dream, all writhing lines and murky shadows. It feels… amphibious? Editor: Precisely! What we’re looking at is "To illustrationsudkast til H.C. Andersen, “Dynd-Kongens Datter,” a pen and ink drawing by Lorenz Frølich from 1869, presently held here at the SMK. It is an illustration study for Hans Christian Andersen's story “The Marsh King's Daughter.” Curator: Ah, that explains the… vibe. I was getting a serious primordial soup thing. So, this is more about capturing an idea, the gestating moments before the definitive illustration, a whisper of the tale. Editor: Absolutely. Frølich, known for his historical and mythological scenes, was tapped to visualize Andersen's dark fairy tale, a narrative brimming with themes of nature versus nurture, monstrous appearances, and the possibilities of transformation. The piece is an early sketch, of course, showcasing Frølich's exploration of the story's pivotal moments through rapidly drafted strokes of ink. Curator: I love seeing those raw ideas laid bare. The way he uses a minimal, almost scratchy line, creates an undeniable sense of unease and melancholy. The poor swamp king, practically prostrating himself… then, this faintest ghost of lovers entwined below. You can almost feel the gothic weight pressing down on it all. It certainly carries on those 19th-century burdens! Editor: Indeed. And in its very roughness lies a certain truth. Frølich distills the narrative to its core, laying bare the tensions at play in Andersen's story – the duality of beauty and ugliness, love and duty. The medium itself, the immediacy of ink on paper, allows for a glimpse into the artist's process, his wrestling with the visual language to convey these complex themes. How powerful it would have been for people to be so exposed to different social classes! Curator: It’s that glimpse behind the curtain that captivates, isn’t it? To see the messy, searching, feeling behind the "finished" product. I will see what happens later with this material, but so far this sketch makes this museum tour an invitation to peer into both artist’s minds… wonderful. Editor: Very much so. And on that note, let’s turn our attention to the next piece and see where those feelings lead.