The Story of a Mother

Illustration by Kay Nielsen

This glorious illustration from Nielsen was inspired by the classic tale from Hans Christian Andersen, "The Story of a Mother",

depicting the following text:

The roads crossed each other in the depths of the forest, and she no longer knew

whither she should go! then there stood a thorn-bush; there was neither leaf nor

flower on it, it was also in the cold winter season, and ice-flakes hung on the

branches.

"Hast thou not seen Death go past with my little child?" said the mother.

"Yes," said the thorn-bush; "but I will not tell thee which way he took, unless thou

wilt first warm me up at thy heart. I am freezing to death; I shall become a lump

of ice!"

And she pressed the thorn-bush to her breast, so firmly, that it might be thoroughly

warmed, and the thorns went right into her flesh, and her blood flowed in large

drops, but the thorn-bush shot forth fresh green leaves, and there came flowers on

it in the cold winter night, the heart of the afflicted mother was so warm; and the

thorn-bush told her the way she should go.

The illustration

Complete Image	Single Greeting Card (with matching Envelope) Code: KN SM SGC Price: US$5.00	Detail (for reference)
	Reproduction on 18 x 24" sheet Code: KN SM 18x24 Price: US$150.00

Our Greeting Cards

When presented on Greeting Cards, this image is prepared as a tipped-on plate - in hommage to the hand-crafted

approach typical of prestige illustrated publications produced in the early decades of the 20th Century. Each card is

hand-finished, with the image presented on Ivory card stock with an accompanying envelope. On the rear of each

card we also present some information about Kay Nielsen and this wonderful illustration. We have left the interior

of the cards blank so that you may write your own personal message.

Our large format reproductions

Each of our large format reproductions are prepared with archival quality materials and processes to ensure many years

of enjoyment. In addition, our reproductions are accompanied by explanatory material relating to Kay Nielsen and this

wonderful illustration.

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