The Snow Queen - Fairy Tale Art

 This Hans Christian Andersen tale is perfect for winter.  The Snow Queen always reminds me of the White Witch from Narnia.  There are many parallels, so I assume C. S. Lewis was at the very least inspired by the fairy tale.

I like how the illustration above captures that rainbow band on the horizon of a winter's dusk.

 both by Honor C. Appleton

(If you're not familiar with the plot, you can read Wikipedia's summary of the fairy tale here. Scroll down to 'story'.)

I'm going to focus mainly on illustrations of the Snow Queen herself and the most wintery aspects.  I may eventually do another post about the rest of the tale...it's a long story with many different settings and characters.

 above and below by Errol le Cain

by Milo Winter

Sometimes the queen is depicted with geese and sometimes with swans.  I would assume the geese are used because of their association with changing seasons and migration.  The swans?  Hmm...maybe they're simply more elegant and attractive?

by Susan Jeffers

I like the imagery of the queen bearing Kai away on her sled.

illustration by Milo Winter

by Miss Clara

I found this one on Pinterest, but it wasn't credited.  Any idea who the illustrator is?

by Amy Ehrlich

by Angela Barrett

 

from kelleybean86 on Tumblr- Man, I really wish people would tell us where the images come from!  This one is very modern, and I particularly like her antlers.

This book has such lovely illustrations, by Vadyslav Yerko

Oooh...the costumes! 

From the English National Ballet's "Snow Queen". 

 

This is my favorite movie version, with Bridget Fonda.  It's rated G, I think, but don't let that deter you.  In case it would...would it?  I was thinking that with the recent release of the Charlize Theron/Kristen Steward version of Snow White and the Huntsman, people might be looking for a more adult take on fairy tales.  However, this version is sweet and entertaining and will really appeal to the tween slumber party set.

  

This is the movie trailer for "The Snow Queen" by Wizart Animation.  It looks good, but kid-friendly.  Is that the same company that produced "Brave"?

If you're looking for something really off the wall, try this 1957 Russian version.  It's the entire movie, but it's all in Russian.  It would make great background music for gift wrapping or cookie making, though.  This is a neat background show, too---a Finnish movie.

A more delicate queen by Christian Birmingham.

by H. J. Ford

by Richard Williams

by Margaret Tarrant

This is an unusual interpretation by Shirley Tourret.  The disembodied snowflake heads are a little disturbing.   It reminds me of some of William Blake's paintings. 

by Harry Clarke

The following four images are by the fabulous Edmund Dulac.  That man produced some of the richest, most amazing fairy tale illustrations!

I like the stark black sky against the bears' fur and her lacy mantle.

The queen is subtle in this one.  I almost missed her the first time I looked.  She's on the left, as kind of a personification of a snowy wind.

She's as frosty as her iceberg throne.

Gerda and the Reindeer

Here are more movie versions....a Japanese dubbed in English (I think) version, Fairy Tale Theater version narrated by Shelly Duvall and starring Lauren Hutton and Melissa Gilbert, a Finnish show, a BBC (?) cartoon, and a trailer for the Lyceum Theater version, which is worth viewing at :10 seconds just to see the light effect in the background...dreamy.

by Victoria Fomina

Comments

[Maria]

Gorgeous! Thank you for a big dose of pretty to start my day!

[Laura Irrgang]

Thanks, Maria!
I like to fill my head with visual goodness, too.
Its nice to start the day feeling inspired.

[Charlotte]

I found the snow queen in narnia especially frightening...I think because cold scares me. Real bone chilling cold. Not to mention the evil personality. Lovely illustrations here.

[Laura Irrgang]

I was scared of her in the books, too.
I thought Tilda Swinton was a brilliant casting choice for the movies.
Her costumes were so impressive.

[Jill James]

I give a Christmas book as a neighbor gift each year (this Christmas, they will now have 23 books)......and The Snow Queen would be wonderful...

One of the most charming things about living where I do ~ Utah ~ is the wintertime. It's so crisp & bare but cozy all at once.....Our neighborhood is on the side of a mountain and the houses are stair~stepped.....snowy roofs w/smoke curling out as you're driving down the hill.

I like the faces in the snowflakes!

[Laura Irrgang]

Sigh....you mean you have a REAL WINTER?
So jealous.
But happy for you.

I really, really like the neighbor gift idea.
Too bad I only have one neighbor.
Id love to see that collection.

If I havent mentioned it before (HINT HINT)
YOU SHOULD HAVE A BLOG JILL!!!!
I would love to see images and hear blurbs from your life.
Still...its not like you might have the desire or time.
And, it kind of puts you out there for all the world to see,
which I can understand how not everyone might be into.