The sculpture "The boy catching an eagle in flight" stands in the centre of Odense, near Blackfriars Square. It is a tribute to the town’s most famous son, the fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, whose rose from poverty here to become one of the world’s most celebrated writers. The sculpture is cast in bronze and depicts an eagle approximately as large as the boy himself. The sculptor was Erik Rahr and the piece was unveiled in 1932. The artist has stated that he believes the image sums up Andersen’s essential qualities.