Hans Christian Andersen Complete Portfolio by Andy Warhol is a series of four screenprints. Three of them feature paper cut-out motifs inspired by characters from Andersen’s fairy tales. Warhol admired the Danish author’s imaginative world and devoted most of the series to it, including only one portrait of Andersen himself. In that print, the author appears in calm blue tones, his hands folded, outlined with Warhol’s signature line work. The other pieces show stylized paper silhouettes—simplified, theatrical forms that recall Andersen’s delicate craft.
Rupert Jasen Smith produced the portfolio in New York, and Art Expo Danmark published it in Odense, Denmark, in 1987. Warhol completed the series just months before his death, giving it a special place among his final works. Another Hans Christian Andersen portfolio from the same year shows a double image of the author in black and white: one illustrated and one photo-real. Together, these two portfolios explore the tension between myth and identity, between fantasy and documentation.
Warhol’s Tribute to the Storyteller
Hans Christian Andersen became world-famous for fairy tales that transcend age and culture. Warhol’s fascination with icons and storytelling made Andersen an ideal subject. In Andersen’s ability to merge innocence with moral depth, Warhol recognized a kindred spirit—someone who could turn simple imagery into lasting myth. For this reason, the artist treated Andersen with the same reverence he once gave celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe or Elizabeth Taylor.
This portfolio appears alongside Warhol’s Hans Christian Andersen I series, created in the same year. Together, they reveal Warhol’s late-career interest in European culture and nostalgia. They also highlight his shift away from American consumerism toward more introspective themes. Meanwhile, the bold outlines and dark backgrounds show Warhol’s ongoing exploration of contrast and minimal form.
The Hans Christian Andersen Portfolio in Warhol’s Later Career
The Hans Christian Andersen Complete Portfolio was one of the final series Warhol created in 1987. During this same period, he also completed Beethoven, Lenin, Moonwalk, and Camouflage. At this time, Warhol’s focus moved from modern celebrities to historical and cultural figures of the past. Both Hans Christian Andersen and Beethoven show this evolution clearly. Each one uses darker backgrounds, restrained compositions, and a more reflective tone.
Additionally, these late works reveal Warhol’s deep concern with legacy—both his own and that of his subjects. The minimalist yet vibrant Andersen prints demonstrate his talent for distilling personality into pure form and color. Moreover, they prove that, even near the end of his life, Warhol continued to innovate and challenge the boundaries of Pop Art. As a result, the Hans Christian Andersen Complete Portfolio stands as a testament to his curiosity and discipline. The full set includes FS II.398–401 and bears Warhol’s posthumous stamp in black ink on verso.
Photo Credits:
- Detail of the exhibition invite for “Hans Christian Andersen’s Paper Cuts by Andy Warhol,” Privatbanken NYC, 1987.
- Andy Warhol holding his Hans Christian Andersen (FS II.398) print, same exhibition invite.
- Original Hans Christian Andersen paper cutout, Creativity, Literature, Museums, March 1, 2021.
