Art, culture & history images

Scandinavian Fairy Tales

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), is largely considered to be the father of the literary fairy tale in Scandinavia. Andersen published four collections between 1835 and 1872, retelling folk tales he had heard as a child by his own stories. Not only did Andersen inspire generations of Scandinavian writers, but his translated works were hugely popular throughout the world.

Hundreds of illustrations that bring his stories to life can be found in the Bridgeman archive including The Little Mermaid and Thumbelina by artists including Lucie Attwell (1879-1964).    

Swedish painter and illustrator, John Bauer, is best known for his illustrations for the first of eight volumes of Bland tomtar och Troll (Among Gnomes and Trolls), an annual collection of fairy tales written by Swedish authors first published in 1907. This collection is beloved in Sweden and continues to this day. 

Norwegian artists Erik Theodor Werenskiold (1855-1938) and Theodor Kittelsen (1857-1914) are both well known for creating illustrations for a popular Norwegian collection of folktales and legends.

Images from Scandinavian folklore

Contemporary Artists

Whimsical drawings featuring anthropomorphic moons, futuristic animals, dragons and fairies are a hallmark of British artist, Wayne Anderson.

Irish painter, Jonathan Barry's colourful scenes have been featured in many of the most beloved children's books of all time:  The Wind in the Willows, Peter Pan,  The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings.

Gorgeous illustrations by British artist, James Lynch, also follow the adventures of Toad and his friends, from the Kenneth Grahame classic, The Wind in the Willows.

Frances Broomfield's colorful paintings of mythical creatures and notorious charactures such as The Dodo, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and The Mad Hatter are sure to spark the imagination.