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

This illustration for Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Loveliest Rose in the World” was created by H.P. Hansen, a 19th-century Danish artist. It’s a small rendering, only about 7 by 9 centimeters, and yet it opens up a world of romantic longing. Hansen’s illustration encapsulates the tale’s exploration of beauty and truth. We are drawn into a scene of lush overgrowth, a classic romantic garden with roses climbing the walls and framing a gothic fountain. In Andersen’s story, a queen declares that the loveliest rose in the world will be given to whoever can bring it to her. The winning rose turns out not to be a physical specimen, but rather the rose of kindness, faith, and love found in a child’s rosy cheeks. This tension between surface appearance and inner virtue reflects the identity issues prevalent in the cultural milieu of 19th-century Denmark. Hansen’s illustration then, is not merely a visual representation but an invitation to consider how we cultivate and perceive beauty, both outwardly and within.