The Tritonian Ring Paperback Cover 1967

Frank Frazetta made this paperback cover illustration for The Tritonian Ring, and just imagine being him, standing at an easel, conjuring fantastical realms with strokes of paint. I love the drama in this painting, the tension between the warrior and the woman. The palette is really interesting, dominated by warm earthy tones, which gives it this sense of a gritty realism. Frazetta, I imagine, is someone who paints fast, there are these gestural marks which capture a sense of movement and energy, especially in the clouds, the muscles of the characters, the texture of the landscape. The woman, perched on that gnarled tree, could almost be one of those ancient Greek statues with its ambiguous gender and mythological narratives. It puts me in mind of those muscular figures by Michelangelo. All these artists are in conversation, you know? It’s great!