Fairy Tales by Hans Andersen (1924), illustrated by Kay Nielsen, is a breathtaking marriage of Danish storytelling and visionary artistry, often regarded as one of the most exquisite illustrated books of the 20th century. Published by Hodder & Stoughton, this edition gathers Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved tales—“The Little Mermaid,” “The Snow Queen,” “The Red Shoes,” and others—into a volume where Nielsen’s illustrations transcend mere accompaniment, becoming gateways into the stories’ soul.
Nielsen, a Danish artist like Andersen, channels the tales’ haunting beauty through his Art Nouveau-meets-Art Deco style: scenes are framed by intricate borders of curling vines and geometric motifs, while figures glide through dreamscapes of inky shadows and luminous color. His Little Mermaid drifts in a midnight-blue sea, her tail flickering like opal; his Snow Queen presides over jagged ice palaces that seem to crackle with cold. The interplay of gilded accents and somber hues mirrors Andersen’s blend of wonder and melancholy.
Though the book was a commercial failure in its time (leading to many copies being pulped), surviving editions are now prized collector’s items, revered for their otherworldly elegance. Nielsen’s work here influenced generations of fantasy artists, from Brian Froud to Mary Blair.
For devotees of: Arthur Rackham’s gothic whimsy, Ivan Bilibin’s Slavic folklore art, or Moebius’s surreal landscapes.
