Once upon a time… It’s the beginning of so many fairytales and myths, who tell us amazing and wonderful things about beautiful queens and princesses – most of them with very long hair! Long hair seems to be a permanent topic in fairytales from all over the world. Let’s show you some examples…
The Beauty by
painter T.R. Spence. Luxuriant long hair belongs to the most important
attributes of female characters in fairytales.
Rapunzel,
the girl with the golden hair who lives in a tower, is known all over the world
from the famous fairytale by the Brothers Grimm. But in reality she isn’t of
German origin: 300 years ago , the French writer Mademoiselle de la Force wrote
a tale with the title “ Persinette “ (printed in her book “ Cabinet
des Fees”). The core of the fairytale she had heard from the people. A century
later the German author Friedrich Schulz translated the French fairytale into
German: Rapunzel was born. The tale of the Brothers Grimm is an edited
version of this translation.
Rapunzel has
many sisters in Europe and Northern America. Local authors edited the character
and called her “La Belle Blonde” (Leon Pineau), “Catharinella” (Ludovica
Brentano), “The Fair Angiola” or “Rudabe”. All tales had the long plait in
common, but sometimes the dream princess wore night-black hair instead of her
golden mane.
“Rapunzel, let down your hair”, is the most famous line from this
fairytale.
(Illustration from a modern greeting-card)
Zoulvisia
from the crystal tower is another adaptation of Rapunzel.
The girl in the tower and the prince – this topic is the common cover illustration
of so many books, which tell us the story of Rapunzel.
Petrosinella
is the name of an Italian version of the Rapunzel fairytale.
Inside the tower Rapunzel is waiting for her prince.
If you have more beautiful illustrations from old fairytale books of your country, please send it as your contribution! Pictures, information’s and comments are always welcome.
