Hans Christian Andersen, as depicted in Andy Warhol’s Hans Christian Andersen 397, was a famous Danish author. Andersen inspired Andy Warhol to the extent that the pop artist decided to create a series devoted to the author and his fairytale characters in 1987. The dark cut out subject in front of a muted background enhances the vibrancy of the cut out making it the sole focus of the composition.
Hans Christian Andersen 397 by Andy Warhol as Part of His Larger Body of Work
Andy Warhol’s Hans Christian Andersen suite is a portfolio of four screenprints, three of which include a paper cut-out style based on characters from Andersen’s fairy tales. Andy Warhol was inspired by Andersen’s unique characters, which is why he devoted most of his suite to them, with only one portrait of the author himself. This series, completed in 1987, was printed by Rupert Jasen Smith in New York and published by Art Expo Danmark, Odense, Denmark. The complete Hans Christian Andersen suite includes FS II.349-201 and was posthumously stamped in black on verso. Hans Christian Andersen became famous for his fairy tales that transcended age and culture. Considering Warhol took great interest in creating portraits and series on iconic figures, it is not surprising that Warhol would choose to create a series on the very talented and well-known author and his many wonderful characters.
Photo credit: Exhibition invite for “Hans Christian Andersen’s Paper Cuts by Andy Warhol” invite. Printed by Privatbanken NYC. Published in a 1987.
