Illustration to Aleksander Blok's poem 'The Twelve' 1918

Jury Annenkov made this illustration to Aleksander Blok's poem 'The Twelve' using stark lines and bold shapes, a reflection of the tumultuous process of revolution itself. The material aspects here jump out: the graphic, almost woodcut-like quality, with its sharp contrasts and textural hatching. Look at the lower section, where the figure lies, there is a mix of dense black ink and feverish white scratches. It's like Annenkov is digging into the surface, trying to unearth some truth. The use of a limited palette forces us to focus on form and composition. You can see the influence of German Expressionism, maybe someone like Kathe Kollwitz, in its raw intensity and social commentary. What's great is that the conversation between the image and poem remains unresolved; the ambiguity asks more from us as viewers, making us active participants in the interpretation.