Front page to 'Three Fables of Krylov' 1912

This is Heorhiy Narbut's front page to 'Three Fables of Krylov', and like a lot of book illustrations, it’s all about process, that dance between intention and execution. Look at the solid blacks carving out these shapes – trees, a swan, a classical bust, and this cameo-like portrait. The starkness of the black ink against the white page is like a stage set. Narbut wasn't messing around with gradients or subtle shifts. The process reminds me of Matisse's cut-outs – bold choices that revel in the material itself. I’m drawn to the silhouette of the woman in the oval frame. The sharpness of the outline reminds me of Manet, but with a folkloric twist. See the way the leaves are described, and how that single swan floats so serenely. It’s this tension between representation and graphic flatness that makes it so compelling. Art isn't about answers, it's about the conversations we have while trying to figure it all out.