Aschenputtel (Cinderella) by Hanns Anker

Is It Cinderella or Aschenputtel (or Aschenbrodel)?

While we automatically relate Cinderella to the Grimms' fairy tales, most people actually know only the version written by Charles Perrault and popularized by Walt Disney. Cinderella or Little Glass Slipper has the same characters and the plot as Aschenputtel (by the Grimm Brothers), but differs in three main details:

• In Aschenputtel, there is no fairy godmother. The magic, necessary to visit the ball, comes from the tree growing on Cinderella's mother's grave and watered by her tears. This is, from a storytelling point of view, the main difference. The girl works hard and earns the chance to marry the prince by honoring her mom's memory.
• Instead of the iconic glass slippers, Aschenputtel features golden slippers. Using glass for slippers is Perrault's extravagant invention, which didn't impress the Grimm Brothers, who preferred symbolism. Gold is an ancient symbol of prestige.
• The last crucial difference is the end of the story. While Perrault's Cinderella generously forgives her stepsisters and even finds them noble men to marry, the birds, Aschenputtel's best friends, carry out a bloody revenge. Nasty stepsisters end up crippled and blind!

The story of cinderella have inspired numerous artists. We have a chance to walk through Aschenputtel with amazing illustrations by Hanns Anker. The book was published around 1910.

This single edition of the fairy tale Cinderella was first published around 1910 by A. Molling & Comp. in Hanover. Adolf Molling established it as a printing company in 1887. Due superb quality of printing, several international publishers ordered book printing at A. Molling and the company expanded to Berlin and started its own publishing activity. The present book was the first of many picture books by A. Molling.

Cinderella's mother died, and her father remarried. Her stepmother broght two daughters on their own into a household and soon, all three new ladies started commanding the girl. She was forced to do all the hard and dirty work, and that's how she got her nickname: Cinderella (Aschenputtel or Aschenbrodel in the German language). Her life looked terrible until an invitation to the dance came. The king's son is about to marry, and he needs to choose a bride. All girls from the kingdom are invited. Cinderella wants to go, too. But her stepmother gives her an impossible task: she needs to sort lentils from the ash in a very short time.

Luckily, Cinderella has helpers. The birds help her with all kinds of errands, and sorting lentils was not too hard for them. For some time, Cinderella believes she will go to the dance. Yet, her stepmother finds another reason to forbid her participation. She has no decent dress.

Cinderella is allowed to help her stepsisters dress up, but she must not go with the others. She will stay alone at home, without a chance to meet the prince and possibly improve her social status.

It's time for a little magic. In Cinderella's garden, a tree is growing. It's not an ordinary tree, because it grows on Cinderella's mother's grave. There, on the tree, a splendid dress appears. And there's also a pair of golden slippers!

Cinderella manages to get to the castle and instantly charms the prince. He wants to dance with her only. Her beauty enchants everybody else as well. Nobody recognizes poor dirty girl in astonishing attire. Still, there's a problem. The magic of the tree can last only till midnight. Cinderella has to leave before the prince even finds her name.

The invitation to another dance comes again, and the situation in Cinderella's home repeats. She stars for another evening and escapes before midnight.

For the third time, the prince orders to cover the steps with tar to slow down the mysterious princess. His plan fails, but she loses one of her golden shoes. This gives a chance to the prince. He will marry the girl whose foot fits the shoe!

It wasn't easy to try the slipper on all feet, but eventually, the prince found Cinderella. Her foot not only fit into the slipper, but she also has the other golden slipper!

This means one of the best-known happy endings in fairy tales!

Hanns Anker (1873-1950) was a painter, sculptor, etcher, and printmaker who studied in Berlin. He excelled at landscapes and urban scenes, but also figure studies, yet he focused quit early on graphic art and illustration. Anker also designed propaganda posters during the First World War. In the last active years, he mostly created sculptures. He had also written a few critical texts on art.