Sketch for the Opera, The Golden Cockerel, by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov 1909

Ivan Bilibin’s sketch for the opera “The Golden Cockerel” uses bright colors and meticulous linework to depict a fairytale cityscape. I'm thinking about the artist at work here, carefully layering watercolor and gouache to create the intricate details of the buildings and the sky. I'm imagining how Bilibin must have felt translating the fantastical elements of the opera into a visual form. It's like he's building a stage set with paint, carefully arranging each element to evoke a sense of wonder and enchantment. Look at how the checkered patterns contrast with the smooth surfaces, creating a kind of visual rhythm. It’s as if he’s harmonizing the language of painting and music. You know, art is just like this ongoing conversation across time. Bilibin's work reminds me a bit of the Symbolists, you know? They were also into dreams and the fantastical. It's a reminder that painting can be a space for dreaming, imagining, and exploring the endless possibilities of storytelling.