Illustration to 'The Song of Roland' 1903

Heorhiy Narbut made this illustration to 'The Song of Roland' with some kind of ink or paint, and I’m just imagining the artist leaning over the page, super focused. The lines feel so deliberate, right? Look at the way the horses legs have been done. It gives it a kind of handmade, folk-art feel. He was interested in the intersection between Ukrainian folk art and modernism. There’s a playful quality to how he’s approached the subject of Roland. It’s a epic poem, but it’s like he’s seen the funny side of the poem. I love that Narbut has taken something ancient, and made it feel so fresh and alive. He’s saying something about his time, too. All artists are magpies, taking ideas from here and there, and it’s amazing how they all speak to each other across time, inspiring each other’s creativity.