Bird Alkonost 1905

Ivan Bilibin made this image of Bird Alkonost, with no date recorded, using graphic art techniques. The clear lines and flat areas of color give it an almost stenciled quality, like something between a print and a painting. It reminds us that making art is often a process of layering and building, not just one spontaneous gesture. The colors are rich and earthy – deep reds, blues, and golds – creating a sense of warmth and depth. The texture seems smooth, almost like it's been printed on the page, but look closer and you'll see the way the colors bleed slightly into each other, giving it a handmade feel. The bird's feathers are rendered with intricate detail, each line carefully placed to create a sense of depth and movement. The way the bird's wings curl around its body creates a sense of enclosure, as if it's protecting something precious. Bilibin’s work has some affinities with that of Aubrey Beardsley, who embraced ambiguity and multiple interpretations over fixed meanings.