Illustration for the Russian Fairy Story "The Frog Princess" 1930

This is Ivan Bilibin's illustration for the Russian fairy tale "The Frog Princess", made in 1930, and it's like stepping into a dream. The way he uses color is wild. Look at the greens and browns of the forest, how they almost vibrate against the oranges and reds of the figure’s clothing. It's all about the surface here. The paint is laid down in flat, even layers, almost like a collage. This flatness gives the image a graphic punch, but it also creates a sense of distance, like we're looking at a stage set. Focus on the floral patterns on the figure's robes: they are so intricate, so carefully rendered, that they feel almost hypnotic. It's these little details that make Bilibin's work so enchanting, so transporting. Think about Aubrey Beardsley, whose work shares a similar love of line and pattern. Like Beardsley, Bilibin invites us into a world of fantasy and imagination. There’s no one 'right' way to read it.