Hans Christian Anderson: storyteller, author and papercut artist

Rachel Goodchild

Jun 17, 2021

3 min read

Updated: Aug 24

Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875)

As well as being a great storyteller, Hans Christian Andersen would amuse his friends and their children by making paper cuts to accompany his stories. Using a large pair of scissors, he could create the most delicate, fine paper cuts. He would tell his stories whilst cutting into a piece of folded paper, then at the end of the story he would unfold the paper and reveal a delicate paper cut to an amazed audience.

He didn't regard paper cutting simply as a craft or illustration technique. It was a way of thinking visually and telling stories with shapes.

Throughout his life, Hans Christian Andersen was an addict to paper. He wrote on it, he drew on it, plus he used it to cut into. Born in Denmark into poverty to a cobbler father, who died when Hans was aged 11, and an illiterate mother, Andersen listened as women in the local asylum talked and his father read stories.

Hans had no formal education until he was aged 17, when he was placed in classroom with students six years his junior.

He soon erupted with creativity, and his stories tumbling down the decades. His papercuts are testament to the care he gave each of his tales.

Anderson utilised the negative space in his designs. He often folded his paper before cutting. When unfolded, the cuts formed symmetrical or mirrored compositions. Thus, he wasn't merely drawing an object and cutting around it.

Et helt udklippet Eventyr by Hans Christian Anderson — ***Et helt udklippet Eventyr*** **by Hans Christian Anderson**

Andersen created intricate paper-cuts alongside his Stories. in 1864 he created Et helt udklippet Eventyr ("A Whole Cut Fairy Tale") Size: 13 9/16 x 13 1/4 in. (34.4 x 33.7 cm). This series features symmetric designs with handwritten verses, and was often sold to raise money for charitable causes. It sold at auction for approximately €33,600 (which is approximately £28,000–£30,000) making it the highest-priced individual Andersen paper-cut

Hans Christian Andersen paper cut
Hans Christian Andersen paper-cut
Hans Christian Andersen paper-cut

Anderson's designs are non-geometric

Anderson's symmetry isn't the strict symmetry we might think of with geometric designs. Instead, it embodies an organic symmetry. A swan on one side could be balanced by a dancer on the opposite side. A flower might be balanced by a figure, and a large shape could be offset by several smaller ones. This creates a sense of visual equilibrium rather than mathematical precision.

Hans Christian Andersen paper cut
Hans Christian Andersen paper cut
Hans Christian Andersen paper cut
Hans Christian Andersen paper cut
Hans Christian Andersen paper cut
Hans Christian Andersen paper cut
Hans Christian Andersen paper cut
Hans Christian Andersen paper cut

creating story-telling without using words

This is perhaps the most exquisite connection between Andersen's writing and his paper cutting. His fairy tales would convey stories through language, and his paper-cuts would narrate his stories through their silhouettes.