Andy Warhol’s Hans Christian Andersen (FS. II 401) is a screenprint from Warhol’s 1987 Hans Christian Andersen portfolio. This vibrant work draws inspiration from paper cut-outs depicting characters from Andersen’s beloved fairy tales. The figure is outlined in bold, luminous color, standing out sharply against a dark background—infusing the piece with Warhol’s signature Pop sensibility.

The complete Hans Christian Andersen suite consists of four screenprints: three featuring whimsical, cut-out style illustrations of Andersen’s fairy tale characters, and one portraying the Danish author himself. Renowned for crafting stories that resonated across generations and cultures, Andersen served as a fitting subject for Warhol, who was known for his fascination with iconic personalities and cultural imagery.

Created 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 print, including Hans Christian Andersen FS. II 401, was posthumously stamped in black on the verso and is part of the catalogue raisonné listed from FS II.394 to FS.II 401. Warhol’s tribute captures not only Andersen’s enduring literary legacy but also transforms his timeless characters into modern pop icons.