East of the Sun and West of the Moon 1914

Kay Nielsen made this illustration for a fairytale with ink and watercolor. Look at how he’s created a range of blues, from velvety dark to a hazy, twinkling expanse. It reminds me that color is never just one thing but a whole atmosphere in itself. I am drawn to the texture of the ogre’s skin. Nielsen uses a stippling effect, almost like he’s aged the surface. The ogre sits hunched, as if weighed down by the weight of his own body. There's a contrast with the delicate, almost ethereal figure beside him, who seems poised to float away. I love the way Nielsen creates a sense of depth and mystery, inviting you to get lost in the details. Nielsen reminds me of Arthur Rackham with a similar interest in folklore and fantasy. His work invites us to consider art as an ongoing conversation across time.