Illustration for the epic "Volga and Mikula" 1940

Ivan Bilibin made this illustration for the epic "Volga and Mikula" with ink and watercolour. Look at how he’s constructed this fairytale landscape; it feels both dreamlike and precise, doesn’t it? Everything is outlined with a thin, consistent line that makes each part distinct, yet the colours fill these outlines with such a soft, washy quality. They blend like watercolour paints do, to create a sort of shimmering effect. Take a moment to look closely at the white horse in the foreground. You can almost feel the energy of its forward motion. Its mane and tail are depicted with flowing lines. The contrast between the softness of the watercolour and the firmness of the ink lines makes it feel both solid and ethereal. Bilibin's illustrative style echoes the work of Aubrey Beardsley but with a deeply Russian sensibility. As with all great art, he embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations.