Yuki-Anna, The Frost Fairy

Bertha Lum often found subject matter in the highly popular stories of Lafcadio Hearn (1850–1904), an American writer living in Japan who adapted local legends and fairy tales for Western audiences. This woodcut illustrates the tragic story of Yuki-Anna, a wintry spirit who takes on human form in order to marry a young man she loves. When he betrays her secret identity, she transforms into snow and melts away forever.

• Artist: Bertha Lum
• Medium: Color woodcut on cream, thin, laid Japan paper
• Dates: 1916
• Dimensions: Sheet: 17 5/8 x 10 1/2 in. (44.8 x 26.7 cm) Image: 17 1/8 x 10 1/8 in. (43.5 x 25.7 cm)
• Markings: From Catalog Sheet: Signed, "Copyright 1916 by" in margin, "Bertha Lum" in lower center of composition, "No / 21"
• Signature: Signed in graphite, bottom edge"Bertha Lum"
• Collection: American Art
• Museum Location: Brooklyn Museum, BMA, 2N12, B210
• Accession Number: 63.108.1
• Image: 63.108.1_PS1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 0,