Illustration for the Tale of Prince Ivan, The Firebird and the Grey Wolf 1899

This illustration for the Tale of Prince Ivan, The Firebird and the Grey Wolf was created by Ivan Bilibin using watercolor, ink, and graphite on paper. The flat planes of color and bold outlines show Bilibin’s interest in stylized forms, drawing from Russian folk art traditions. In this period, there was a revival of interest in national identity and cultural heritage, which encouraged artists to look to the past for inspiration. Bilibin has thoroughly researched medieval Russian culture, creating designs for theatrical productions, book illustrations, and decorative panels which were all rooted in Russian folk tales, old wood engravings, and Orthodox icons. The making of the work involves drawing, inking, and painting by hand, with the graphic outlines of Jugendstil design sensibilities that were popular at the time. Consider the amount of time spent on the work with each layer. These designs played an important role in shaping a distinctly Russian visual identity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They remind us that folk art traditions, like that of fine art, can be powerful tools for shaping cultural narratives and national identity.