Illustration for King Mouselet And Prince Youth and The Bold Dwarfs' Adventures 1905

This black and white illustration by Czech artist Artuš Scheiner from 1905 depicts a young woman seated in a birch forest. The woman is dressed in a flowing white gown, with her dark hair cascading around her shoulders. She is surrounded by the tall trees, which seem to create a sense of mystery and solitude. Scheiner was known for his illustrations for children's books, and this piece, which accompanied the text of a fairy tale, uses a style reminiscent of Art Nouveau. The composition of the image is simplified and symbolic, and the woman's pose is both graceful and melancholic. The detailed background of the forest adds to the mystical feel of the scene. The work is a fine example of Scheiner’s talent for creating evocative and fantastical illustrations for children’s literature.