Sketch for the opera "Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and Maiden Fevronia" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov 1929

Ivan Bilibin made this stage set design for Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera with what looks like watercolour and ink. The palette is really unusual, these washed out reds, blues and greens that remind me of a fairy-tale illustration, it’s pretty enchanting. I’m imagining Bilibin hunched over his desk, working in a really graphic way. He’s got a specific job to do and the architectural accuracy must be precise, yet at the same time, he’s going for a naive, almost childlike look. The sun’s rays are very striking and the landscape looks as though it's been created in a dream. I particularly like the clouds that seem to be almost melting into the sky. Bilibin's theatrical design has so much in common with that of other stage designers. It’s amazing to see how his own ideas were sparked and how he took inspiration from others. Every painting contributes to the conversation!