It is no secret that Hans Christian Andersen was a man of many talents. His imagination was constantly in motion and he expressed himself in many different ways from fairytales, stories, and novels to collages, drawings and fabulous papercuts.

This unusual large paper cut derives from the Neergaard family at the country house “Olufshøj” in Søllerød where Andersen was a frequent visitor. The paper cut is unusually well preserved and has never been mounted on canvas or paper. Only one paper cut of these dimensions has previously been offered for sale: The court baker Bruun's paper cut, now at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense. In 2002 the Court baker Bruun's paper cut was sold in our rooms. The baker's cut was a tiny bit larger (41,9×34,2 cm.), but had a similar composition (though different motifs) and an almost identical inscribed verse.

It is most likely that Andersen made the present cut during the same period. On the 11th of May 1864, Hans Christian Andersen wrote in his diary: “Klippede Billeder til Bazarerne; eet forleden betaltes med 1 Species af Hofbager Bruun [...].” (“Paper cuts for the Bazars; the other day court baker Bruun bought one for 1 ”Species“ [ca. 20 dollars])”. The paper cut is unique and the literary connection it has with Andersen's written fairytales is important. In the very center of the cut, Andersen explicitly writes: “It is a whole cut fairytale”.