Cover of 'Fairy Tales: Teremok. Mizgir'. 1910

Heorhiy Narbut created this cover for 'Fairy Tales: Teremok. Mizgir' in the Russian Empire, most likely in the early 20th century. The image presents a fascinating blend of the natural and the symbolic, reflecting broader cultural and social tensions within the Russian Empire at the time. Narbut employs a visual language rooted in both folklore and modernist aesthetics. We see a skull juxtaposed with delicate insects and plants, set against a backdrop of stylized buildings. This combination suggests an engagement with themes of mortality, nature, and civilization – prevalent concerns in Russian intellectual circles during a period of rapid social change and growing political unrest. Narbut's illustration also speaks to the institutional history of art and publishing in Russia, and, more broadly, Ukraine. By looking at archival sources, we can understand better the artist's position in relation to the art world and his own cultural identity as a Ukrainian artist working within the Russian Empire.