I sought shelter behind the cake-woman's petticoats

"I sought shelter behind the cake-woman's petticoats"

Honor Appleton (1879-1951)

c.1932

Illustration from Hans Christian Andersen's Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales. London: Nelson, 1932.

Appleton shows the learned man's shadow, which will eventually supplant and destroy him, finding shelter from the sunlight when he is as yet unclothed, and ashamed of his appearance. She has brilliantly captured the flimsiness yet spookiness of the newly independent shadow, in contrast to the substantial shape and shadow of the seated woman. As the shadow's curving, sinewy figure slinks down to avoid the great pool of sunlight, it also contrasts with the small, regularly placed bricks and cobbles, and even the little cakes on the tray.

Scanned image and text by Jacqueline Banerjee

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