John Bauer enjoyed walking in the forest with his sketchbook in his native province of Småland. He liked watching how the rays of the sun played through the trees and perhaps it was the sun that inspired him to draw the delicate princess who lights up the dark, ancient forest. The story of the princess and the troll is focused on the ancient troll who becomes so infatuated with the princess that he steals her from her carriage and places his own child there instead.