{"product_id":"here-is-a-piece-of-a-troll-herb-which-nobody-else-but-me-can-find-john-bauer","title":"Here is a piece of a troll herb which nobody else but me can find - John Bauer","description":"\u003cp\u003eA delicate watercolour illustration by John Bauer depicting a towering troll offering a herb to a child within a muted, atmospheric forest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Bauer, a Swedish illustrator active in the early twentieth century, created this work for the anthology Bland tomtar och troll (Among Gnomes and Trolls). The image depicts a towering, ethereal troll figure interacting with a small child in a dense, muted forest setting. Bauer uses a delicate line-work technique, combining ink contours with subtle watercolour washes to define the figures and the surrounding environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe troll is rendered with long, flowing hair that obscures its features, creating a sense of mystery and ancient presence. The child stands in profile, looking up at the creature, which holds a small, botanical specimen. This interaction captures the specific narrative quality of Swedish folklore, where the boundary between the human world and the supernatural is thin. The forest background is stylised, with vertical tree trunks providing a rhythmic structure that frames the two central figures. The muted colour palette, dominated by earthy browns, ochres, and soft greys, reflects the atmosphere of the Nordic woods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBauer’s approach to composition relies on a balance between the monumental scale of the troll and the fragility of the child. The use of negative space around the figures allows the viewer to focus on the gesture of the troll offering the herb. This work demonstrates the artist's ability to translate traditional oral storytelling into a visual medium, maintaining a sense of wonder without resorting to excessive ornamentation. The fine ink lines provide clarity to the forms, while the watercolour application remains restrained, ensuring the focus remains on the narrative exchange between the characters. This piece is representative of Bauer's contribution to the visual identity of Swedish fairy tales, where the natural world is imbued with sentient, often enigmatic, inhabitants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/sluitzegel-voor-de-vakschool-voor-de-typografie-in-utrecht-pieter-dupont\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eSluitzegel voor de Vakschool voor de Typografie in Utrecht - Pieter Dupont — Pieter Dupont\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/brunnhild-gaston-bussiere\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eBrunnhild - Gaston Bussière — Gaston Bussière\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"John Bauer","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58517799698767,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58517843509583,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58517843542351,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58517843575119,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58517843607887,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58517843640655,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58517843673423,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58517843706191,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58517843738959,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58517843771727,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58517843804495,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58517843837263,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Here-is-a-piece-of-a-troll-herb-which-nobody-else-but-me-can-find_Poster_CompositorV1_1786466527306.jpg?v=1787147802","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/here-is-a-piece-of-a-troll-herb-which-nobody-else-but-me-can-find-john-bauer","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}