Illustration for the Russian Fairy Story "Salt" 1931

Ivan Bilibin made this illustration for the Russian fairy story "Salt" using watercolor and ink, I imagine, with such precision in the details. The colours are so earthy, ochres and browns, like a landscape in themselves. They make me think about how stories are made, passed down, like the earth itself: layered, built up over time. Look at the giant’s beard, all those tiny hairs, each one a little mark. Or those parallel waves edged in foam. It's meticulous. There's a contrast between the controlled lines and the wildness of the subject. Giants, dolphins, and tiny men riding on shoulders across the sea. It reminds me of Arthur Rackham, another master of illustration, but with a distinctly Russian flavor. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation, echoing and transforming the ideas of others. There’s no single way to read it, just different paths we can take through this visual tale.