Two Pierrots Balancing on Swans and Two Dancers

1820–75

Not on view

Andersen made many of his paper cuts—which were completely independent of his written fairy tales, but with stories all their own—as gifts for the children of family and friends. Certain imagery and forms repeat across these works, such as the ballerinas dancing on butterfly wings and the lively pierrots balanced on long-necked swans, which can also be found in different configurations in the more elaborate cut-out in the collection (2012.379). Like many of Andersen’s cut-outs, the one here was originally mounted in an album, most likely juxtaposed with verses, clippings, or other collected ephemera.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Two Pierrots Balancing on Swans and Two Dancers
Artist: Hans Christian Andersen (Danish, Odense 1805–1875 Copenhagen)
Date: 1820–75
Medium: Cutout in blue paper, mounted on an album sheet
Dimensions: sheet: 6 7/16 x 4 7/8 in. (16.4 x 12.4 cm)
frame: 21 x 16 in. (53.3 x 40.6 cm)
Classification: Cut Paper
Credit Line: Mary Martin Fund, 2003
Object Number: 2003.384
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Hans Christian Andersen

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A Fully Cut Fairy Tale, Hans Christian Andersen Danish, Paper cutout — A Fully Cut Fairy Tale
Hans Christian Andersen
ca. 1864

Coastal Landscape, Anton Melbye Danish, Black chalk, colored chalks — Coastal Landscape
Anton Melbye
mid-19th century

The Harbor of Copenhagen from the Esplanade between Langelinie Park and Toldboden or the Customs House, Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg Danish, Pen and gray ink, brush and gray wash, over graphite; verso: graphite; framing line in pen and black ink — The Harbor of Copenhagen from the Esplanade between Langelinie Park and Toldboden or the Customs House
Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg
1809

Buchinger Family Tree, Matthias Buchinger German, Pen and ink on paper with cutouts — Buchinger Family Tree
Matthias Buchinger
May 28, 1729

View of Charlottenborg Palace in Copenhagen with the Old Botanical Garden and Figures, Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg Danish, Pen and gray ink, brush and gray wash, over graphite; an incised construction line at lower left — View of Charlottenborg Palace in Copenhagen with the Old Botanical Garden and Figures
Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg
ca. 1838–41

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