Tidstavle over H.C. Andersens liv 1843-1828 1930 - 1938

This is a page from a handwritten timeline of the life of Hans Christian Andersen made by Niels Larsen Stevns. Though the artwork itself is undated, we know Stevns was active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The page offers a glimpse into Andersen's early adulthood, detailing his travels and artistic endeavors. As a chronological account, it echoes the nineteenth century's obsession with historical narratives. It is a form of documentation that reflects the increasing professionalization of authorship and the desire to chronicle the lives of cultural figures, turning them into subjects of public interest and national pride. To truly understand this document, a historian might consult biographies of Andersen, travel logs of the period, or even theater programs from the era. The value of art lies not only in what it shows but in the cultural and institutional contexts that shaped its creation and reception.