By Sasha Travers
Kay Nielsen, born of thespian lineage, took center stage in the world of illustration. Born in 1886, the Danish artist is lauded as the “Van Gogh of illustrators,” for his drawings are nothing short of fantastical and boundless—a mirage of imagination. His drawings for the Brothers Grimm fairytales introduced the world to a never-before-seen genius. Such brilliance caught the attention of a young Walt Disney, who invited Nielsen to craft more of his magic into the conceptual art for the 1940 masterpiece Fantasia. Though his time at Disney was brief, Nielsen’s sketches for The Little Mermaid would, decades later, come to heavily inspire the 1980s animated adaptation of The Little Mermaid—a true testament to the lasting impact of his work.
Grimm, Jacob, 1785-1863. Hansel and Gretel and other stories (New York: Doran, [1921] Tulane Special Collections, Howard-Tilton Rare Books; PZ8.G882 Han and Internet Archive.