Entwurf Titelblatt: Der Eisenhans

Art Historical Context

**Entwurf Titelblatt Der Eisenhans** by Anny Dollschein, around 1943, is a delicate watercolor on paper, measuring just 20.7 × 14.7 cm. This intimate drawing serves as a draft title page design for *Der Eisenhans*— German title of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale *Iron Hans*, a story of a wild iron-clad man who mentors a young prince. Housed in Vienna's Bel Collection and classified as a drawing, it mounted onto another sheet alongside inventory number 11046/65, hinting at its role in a larger illustrative project. Produced during World War II, when Austria was under Nazi occupation, the work reflects a period of cultural resilience amid turmoil. Dollschein's choice of watercolor—a medium prized for its luminous transparency and fluid application—lends ethereal vibrancy to what was likely envisioned as a book cover, capturing the tale's mystical essence in a compact format suitable for print preparation. This piece offers a glimpse into mid-20th-century Austrian graphic arts, blending fairy-tale tradition with wartime creativity. Its preservation in the Belvedere underscores the enduring appeal of Grimm-inspired illustrations, inviting visitors to ponder how such fantastical designs provided imaginative escape.