Illustraties uit: Andrew Lang, Fairy Books, 1890-1892 c. 1890 - 1892

This is the cover illustration for Andrew Lang's Blue Fairy Book, published in 1892. The anonymous artist uses a wood engraving technique, creating stark contrasts between light and shadow that draw us into a world of enchantment and unease. The composition is dominated by a framed image, its detailed linework contrasting sharply with the otherwise plain background. This contrast compels us to explore its unsettling scene: two grotesque figures looming over a table set with strange objects. Look closely at the details, the exaggerated features, and the textured costumes. What do the lines suggest about the characters' states of mind? The formal qualities here—the contrast, the enclosed composition—heighten the emotional impact. The artist destabilizes our expectations of beauty and harmony, inviting us to consider the darker, more complex aspects of fairy tales. It's an invitation to question the boundaries between the familiar and the uncanny.