She sits there so small and unassuming. The Little Mermaid. A bronze icon overlooking the Copenhagen harbour. Millions have gazed upon her. Few know her full story.
This seemingly simple statue is a powerful symbol of Copenhagen. It’s based on Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairy tale. The Little Mermaid represents the longing for human connection. She represents a dream of transformation.
The statue’s creation began in 1909. Carl Jacobsen commissioned it. He was fascinated by a ballet version of the tale. He asked ballerina Ellen Price to model. A fascinating detail many miss is that while Price posed for the head her body was modeled by the sculptor’s wife Eline Eriksen. Ellen refused to pose nude.
The Little Mermaid was unveiled on August 23 1913. Her location on a rock by the water at Langelinie promenade has made her a favourite target for vandals. Over the years she has been repeatedly defaced. Her head was even stolen once. She’s been painted many colours. She’s had a dildo attached to her hand. Yet she endures. A testament to both her artistic beauty and the enduring power of the story she represents.
The statue is only 1.25 meters tall. She weighs 175 kilograms. Small in stature but gigantic in symbolic weight. She’s been moved once. For the 2010 Shanghai Expo. A copy stood in her place in Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens.
Today she sits peacefully. A symbol of both enduring beauty and ongoing resilience. The Little Mermaid’s small size and repeated acts of vandalism against her make her a unique and unforgettable monument. She invites reflection on the nature of art. The impact of political messaging. And the enduring fascination with a simple fairy tale.