On the occasion of learning German I started to re-read Grimm’s fairy tales. I had read them as a child.
It was this revision which made me realise a seed of profound fascination for tales and myths has long been planted: a world that is seemingly fantasised, yet contains more truth about humanity, its desire and its fear, no less than any documentation.
Out of a strong will I started to create illustrations for the stories.
I placed nature at the center of the stage, for that I believe the stories of mankind could only be written while holding nature close to the heart.
So she went continually further and further in the wide world, never looking about her or resting, and the seven years were almost past; then she rejoiced and thought that they would soon be delivered, and yet they were so far from it.
——The Singing, Springing Lark
And as she thought to herself, "In this no man can help thee," she climbed up to the sun, and said to him, "Thou shinest into every crevice, and over every peak, hast thou not seen a white dove flying?"
"No," said the sun, "I have seen none, but I present thee with a casket, open it when thou art in sorest need." Then she thanked the sun, and went on until evening came and the moon appeared; she then asked her, "Thou shinest the whole night through, and on every field and forest, hast thou not seen a white dove flying?"
"No," said the moon, "I have seen no dove, but here I give thee an egg, break it when thou art in great need." She thanked the moon, and went on until the night wind came up and blew on her, then she said to it, "Thou blowest over every tree and under every leaf, hast thou not seen a white dove flying?"
"No," said the night wind, "I have seen none, but I will ask the three other winds, perhaps they have seen it."
——The Singing, Springing Lark
But the maiden made up her mind to set her brothers free, even though it should cost her her life. She left the hut, and going into the middle of the wood, she climbed a tree, and there passed the night. The next morning she set to work and gathered asters and began sewing them together: as for speaking, there was no one to speak to, and as for laughing, she had no mind to it; so she sat on and looked at nothing but her work.
——The Six Swans
Not only did he bid to it his relations, friends, and acquaintances, but also the wise women, that they might be kind and favourable to the child.
There were thirteen of them in his kingdom, but as he had only provided twelve golden plates for them to eat from, one of them had to be left out.
——Sleeping Beauty
And the wind ceased, and not a leaf fell from the trees about the castle.
Then round about that place there grew a hedge of thorns thicker every year, until at last the whole castle was hidden from view, and nothing of it could be seen but the vane on the roof.
——Sleeping Beauty
For now the hundred years were at an end, and the day had come when Rosamond should be awakened. When the prince drew near the hedge of thorns, it was changed into a hedge of beautiful large flowers, which parted and bent aside to let him pass, and then closed behind him in a thick hedge.
——Sleeping Beauty