Illustration for Fairy Tales For Adults 

This is an illustration for Fairy Tales For Adults by Artuš Scheiner. Notice the woman's gesture with her arms raised, framing her head. This pose echoes the ancient "orant" figure, seen in early Christian art, a gesture of prayer and supplication, yet here, it's imbued with a sense of vulnerable display. The crown upon her head and the minimal clothing point to themes of exposure and power, of being both sovereign and subject. Consider how this gesture, though rooted in religious entreaty, resurfaces in secular contexts. In theatrical performances and even mundane expressions of surrender, the raised arms persist, yet the meaning shifts. It is as if the collective memory retains the primal, emotive force of this gesture, re-encoded across time. The interplay of the sacred and the profane creates a captivating tension, engaging us on a primal, subconscious level, as these archetypal symbols evoke profound emotional states.