Andy Warhol’s Hans Christian Andersen (FS. II 394) is a screenprint from the 1987 Hans Christian Andersen I portfolio. This piece uniquely combines both an illustration and a photo-based image of the famed Danish author, creating a compelling double portrait that merges whimsical fantasy with photo-realism. The work draws from Warhol’s fascination with Andersen’s fairy tales and his distinctive paper cut-out characters, which served as the primary inspiration for the series.

Andersen, celebrated worldwide for his fairy tales that captivated readers of all ages, became a natural subject for Warhol—an artist deeply drawn to iconic cultural figures. Warhol’s Hans Christian Andersen suite consists of four screenprints: three inspired by Andersen’s fairy tale characters rendered in a paper cut-out style, and one portrait—Hans Christian Andersen —dedicated entirely to the author himself.

Printed by Rupert Jasen Smith in New York and published by Art Expo Danmark in Odense, Denmark, the series was completed shortly before Warhol’s death in 1987. The series stands as a vibrant tribute to Andersen’s imaginative legacy and Warhol’s enduring interest in the intersection of fame, storytelling, and visual culture.