A wealthy artist in Copenhagen who paints a highly sexualized portrait of Helga, which he thinks captures her true nature as a “tragic” mixed-race woman. Helga is attracted to him, but when he proposes, she impulsively rejects him, saying she is “not for sale” to a white man, much to his dismay. Herr Olsen’s painting symbolizes the way in which white people tend to view black or mixed-race people like Helga as exotic sexual commodities.
Herr Axel Olsen (Herr Olsen) Quotes in Quicksand
The Quicksand quotes below are all either spoken by Herr Axel Olsen (Herr Olsen) or refer to Herr Axel Olsen (Herr Olsen) . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 14
Quotes
A decoration. A curio. A peacock.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15
Quotes
“But you see, Herr Olsen, I’m not for sale. Not to you. Not to any white man. I don’t care at all to be owned. Even by you.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
“I think that my picture of you is, after all, the true Helga Crane. Therefore—a tragedy.”
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
It wasn’t, she contended, herself at all, but some disgusting sensual creature with her features.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Quicksand LitChart as a printable PDF.
Herr Axel Olsen (Herr Olsen) Quotes in Quicksand
The Quicksand quotes below are all either spoken by Herr Axel Olsen (Herr Olsen) or refer to Herr Axel Olsen (Herr Olsen) . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 14
Quotes
A decoration. A curio. A peacock.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15
Quotes
“But you see, Herr Olsen, I’m not for sale. Not to you. Not to any white man. I don’t care at all to be owned. Even by you.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
“I think that my picture of you is, after all, the true Helga Crane. Therefore—a tragedy.”
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
It wasn’t, she contended, herself at all, but some disgusting sensual creature with her features.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
