Illustration for the book Under the arches 1907

Ivan Bilibin created this illustration for the book *Under the Arches*, and in it, the dominant marks are like little patterned stamps, brickwork, and wavelets, all organized around a central image of a ship. It is as if the act of painting becomes a process of collaging different images together. I can imagine Bilibin at his desk, carefully laying down each line, one by one. What must he have been thinking as he built up this world? The red against the cream gives it a richness and depth that the artist was likely going for. I love the way the image feels both flat and dimensional at the same time. This effect is achieved through the details, like the brickwork and scroll motifs. Each gesture communicates intention and meaning, resonating with Bilibin’s wider interest in folklore. It reminds me of Aubrey Beardsley. Artists are always in conversation, inspiring each other, embracing ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations.