MARGRETHE II - The Snow Queen

The stage set designed by Queen Margrethe for the animated film The Snow Queen, based on H.C. Andersen's classical fairy tale, is characterised by some very unique features.



Découpage.
Set design for H.C.Andersen's The Snow Queen,
1997-2000.
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The film may be regarded as a type of play with actors who, with the aid of digital technology, act with Queen Margrethe's oval décor sheets - each in the form of a découpage about the size of a large palette in the background.

The technique received its name from the French word "decouper", to cut out. It differs somewhat from the generally more known collage-technique.

Découpage is a popular and creative activity which, compared with painting, demands less concentration and can more easily be fitted in between the Queen´s official duties.

Queen Margrethe has cut out fragments from photos of paintings, architecture, landscapes and jewellery, and arranged them in new creative ways. The pictures are mostly cut out of auction catalogues and art magazines. The technique is normally used for decorating useful articles like trays, wastepaper baskets and fire screens. The ready-made work will be covered with a hard, shiny lacquer



Découpage.
Set design for H.C.Andersen's The Snow Queen,
1997-2000.
Enlarge
The Queen has personally participated in the production of the film. The stage is single coloured and the actors are performing in an imaginary environment. After the scenes have been filmed, the background colour will be digitally replaced by the Queen´s découpage works. The result is a fascinating fairy tale with live acting people inside the pictures

The animated film has been produced in both Danish and English with the Queen herself as narrator. The film can be seen during the exhibition at the Didrichsen Art Museum. It was also shown on Finnish television in November 2002.