Illustration for Alexander Pushkin's 'Fairytale of the Tsar Saltan' 1905

This is Ivan Bilibin’s illustration for Alexander Pushkin's 'Fairytale of the Tsar Saltan', and it feels like a stage set—a world built with intention. The colors aren't trying to mimic reality; they're there to evoke a feeling, a dream. It's less about depiction, more about suggestion. The paint here is flat, graphic, with hard lines that define everything. Look closely, and you'll see how the artist uses line to create patterns, especially in the robes and the architecture. There's a meticulousness, a love for detail, but it never feels labored. It’s like the whole image is built from lots of tiny marks, coming together to form a bigger picture. I’m reminded of the work of Hilma af Klint, or maybe even some of the early Symbolists. There’s a similar sense of wanting to represent something beyond the surface, to tap into deeper currents. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about what we see, but about what we feel and imagine.