Illustration to 'The crane and heron. Bear.' 1906

Heorhiy Narbut created this illustration, to 'The crane and heron. Bear.', with what looks like watercolor and ink. There's something about the way Narbut uses color—it’s like a gentle nod to folk art with a super sophisticated wink. Check out the crane's outfit on the right. The pattern isn't just slapped on, it’s like the essence of decoration, transforming the bird into a figure of high, graphic drama. The surface of the picture feels printed. Each shape is subtly textured and the colors are flat, soaking into the paper. I'm also drawn to the sunset, a perfect red circle that pops against the muted landscape. It's pure theater, playing with the whole scene, right? It reminds me a little of Redon, especially in the way he uses simple shapes to create a really evocative atmosphere. It all leaves you with this sense of a world where stories come to life, and every little detail has its own voice.