Entwurf "Der Eisenhans"

About this artwork

Entwurf für ein Buchumschlag; Märchen der Brüder Grimm

Art Historical Context

**Entwurf "Der Eisenhans" by Anny Dollschein (c. 1943)** Nestled in the Belvedere Collection in Vienna, this delicate watercolor on paper, measuring just 20.7 × 14.7 cm, is a preliminary design for a book cover inspired by the Brothers Grimm fairy tale *Der Eisenhans* (Iron Hans). Created around 1943 by Austrian artist Anny Dollschein, it captures the whimsical yet evocative spirit of Grimm's folklore during the turbulent years of World War II. Mounted alongside another sheet, it reflects the meticulous preparatory work often undertaken by illustrators of the era, blending fantasy with fine artistry on an intimate scale. Dollschein's use of watercolor—a medium prized for its luminous transparency and fluidity—lends ethereal quality to this drawing, ideal for evoking the tale's wild woods, enchanted figures, and themes of transformation and redemption. As a book cover *Entwurf* (design), it highlights the cultural role of fairy tales in German-speaking regions, where Grimm stories served as moral anchors amid historical upheaval. Though modest in size, its classification as a *Zeichnung* (drawing) underscores its value in studying mid-20th-century illustrative techniques. This piece invites visitors to ponder how art sustained imagination in dark times, preserving timeless narratives like *Der Eisenhans*—a story of a boy raised by a wild iron man—in Vienna's prestigious Belvedere holdings. A charming glimpse into wartime creativity! (198 words)