Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale has a few darker differences to the Disney animated and live action films.

This illustrated print features symbols and references to the original tale. The sun at the top is something the little mermaid is fascinated with at the beginning of the tale, and asks her grandmother about. She plants red flowers in her garden in the shape of the sun. Red is an extremely symbolic colour, suggesting love, blood, heat. 

Once the mermaid turns 15 she is allowed to go to the surface. She's dressed with white lillies, a symbol of death, and oysters to show her status as the daughter of the King of the sea.

In the original tale once she takes the witches potion that turns her human her tail splits in two like it's been sliced by a knife and it's painful to walk.  The prince loves another girl, dooming the little mermaid to death. The lore states that mermaids live long lives but have no souls, and only turn to sea foam once they die. The mermaid's sisters offer her a chance to live with a knife bought from the witch. The little mermaid must kill the prince and his blood will turn her legs back into a tail. Ultimately the little mermaid sacrifices herself, willingly turning to sea foam. Though, because of her sacrifice she becomes a daughter of the air, eventually gaining a soul. 

The illustrated art print comes in two sizes and is printed on high quality archival matte paper, which is great for framing.