Golden Axe II Video Game Cover 1989

Editor: So here we have the cover art for the 1989 Sega Genesis game, Golden Axe II, painted in oil by Boris Vallejo. Looking at it, I'm immediately struck by its, shall we say, unapologetic fantasy aesthetic. It feels like something straight out of a Conan comic, but with a slightly more… theatrical flair. What are your thoughts? Curator: Theatrical is definitely a good word for it! For me, it's a real time capsule of late 80s fantasy illustration - all bold colours and improbable anatomy. Vallejo had a real knack for capturing that kind of larger-than-life heroic ideal. It reminds me a little of Frank Frazetta, actually, but with, dare I say it, maybe a bit less subtlety. What do you make of the poses, particularly of the central hero? Editor: That's true. It is very Frazetta, but less grounded in a way, the poses seem a little… forced. That hero does strike an, um, impressive stance, almost like he's flexing for the viewer more than fighting a dragon. Does this kind of composition fall into a recognizable genre, or school, even? Curator: I’d argue it fits neatly into a vein of fantasy art that prioritises spectacle and immediate impact. Think of it as visual heavy metal, really. There’s less concern with realistic proportions or settings, and more with conveying raw power and heroism. It's almost… operatic, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Operatic! I like that, it definitely clicks. All that bombast for a 16-bit game… Curator: But what a game! It’s fascinating to see this very high art tradition funnelling down into the creation of a pretty low art tradition like videogames...or vice versa depending on how you choose to look at it. I imagine some people consider it pretty campy. What are you thinking? Editor: It might be, but it really speaks to a time when fantasy art could be this raw and unironic. And I agree it makes you wonder how we classify these images, or judge its artistic value. Thanks. Curator: Absolutely! It makes you consider high versus low brow traditions, while making you consider what the role of videogames have been and continue to play on a social scale. It certainly takes me back to a place and time I had forgotten about, that's for sure.