Hans Christian Andersen FS. II 398 by Andy Warhol is a screenprint from the artist’s 1987 Hans Christian Andersen portfolio, a series that pays homage to the famed Danish author through a blend of portraiture and stylized imagery inspired by his fairy tales. Known for his timeless stories that captivated both children and adults, Andersen became a fitting subject for Warhol, who was deeply interested in reimagining influential cultural figures through his Pop Art practice.

In this particular print, Warhol portrays Andersen himself, rendered in a vivid bright blue that contrasts dramatically with the dark background. The intense color treatment not only captures the viewer’s attention but also elevates Andersen to the status of a modern icon, aligning him with the celebrity figures often featured in Warhol’s work.

The Hans Christian Andersen suite consists of four screenprints, three of which feature characters presented in a paper cut-out style reminiscent of Andersen’s own handcrafted art, while only one—Hans Christian Andersen FS. II 398—focuses on a portrait of the author. The series was completed in 1987, printed by Rupert Jasen Smith in New York, and published by Art Expo Danmark in Odense, Denmark. Each print in the portfolio, including this one, was posthumously stamped in black on the verso and catalogued in the Andy Warhol Catalogue Raisonné as FS II.349–351.

Warhol’s interest in Andersen underscores his broader fascination with icons—individuals whose influence transcended their immediate fields and became part of a wider cultural dialogue. By placing Andersen within the visual language of Pop Art, Warhol transforms the author into a symbol of creativity, imagination, and enduring cultural relevance.

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