Hans Christian Andersen FS. II 399 by Andy Warhol is a screenprint from the artist’s 1987 Hans Christian Andersen portfolio, a body of work inspired by the Danish author’s celebrated fairy tales and distinctive paper cut-outs. Known for stories that have enchanted both children and adults across generations, Andersen captured Warhol’s imagination, prompting the Pop Art pioneer to create a series dedicated to the author and the whimsical characters he brought to life.

In this print, Warhol presents Andersen’s figures in stark white, set against a black background. The color contrast emphasizes the simplicity of the cut-out forms while imbuing the composition with the graphic intensity characteristic of Warhol’s later work. This piece, like others in the series, reflects Warhol’s ability to elevate literary and cultural subjects into the realm of contemporary visual art.

The Hans Christian Andersen suite comprises four screenprints, three of which reinterpret Andersen’s fairy tale characters in a cut-out style, while the fourth offers a portrait of Andersen himself. Completed shortly before Warhol’s death in 1987, the portfolio was printed by Rupert Jasen Smith in New York and published by Art Expo Danmark in Odense, Denmark. Each work in the series, including Hans Christian Andersen FS.II 399, was posthumously stamped in black on the verso and catalogued in the Andy Warhol Catalogue Raisonné as FS II.394 to 401.

Warhol’s interest in Andersen aligns with his broader fascination with iconic figures—whether from popular culture, politics, or literature—whose influence extended beyond their original domains. By reimagining Andersen and his characters through the language of Pop Art, Warhol not only honored a literary legend but also underscored the enduring cultural power of storytelling.

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