Illustration for the book 'How mice buried the cat' by Zhukovsky 1910

This illustration for the book 'How mice buried the cat' by Heorhiy Narbut is a playful scene rendered with a touch of dark humor. Imagine Narbut at work, carefully inking each tiny detail, from the menacing cat to the fallen mice, with their little hats and weapons strewn about. The cat, a central, looming figure, is captured in a dynamic pose. Its body arches, contorted with feline agility, as it pins down a mouse with its paw, a second mouse clamped firmly in its jaws. Around them, the aftermath of a comical battle—mice in disarray, tiny swords and hats scattered like confetti. I think about what Narbut was trying to convey here. The use of colour—muted tones punctuated by dabs of red—adds to the scene's ironic tone. It’s like a stage set, isn't it? This piece reflects the artist’s wider practice of illustration, reminiscent of other illustrators with its bold outlines, yet unique in its quirky narrative. We all build upon each other, borrowing ideas, remixing them, and making something new.