Krasotkin and His Son (Book XI: Brother Ivan Fyodorovich, facing p.436) 1949

Fritz Eichenberg, a German-American artist, made this image, Krasotkin and His Son, a wood engraving, to illustrate Dostoevsky's novel, The Brothers Karamazov. Eichenberg, who fled Nazi Germany, understood displacement and the search for belonging. The embrace between Krasotkin and his son offers an intimate glimpse into their bond. The details of their faces and intertwined limbs speak to the deep-seated connection between parent and child. The tenderness in their embrace is a powerful counterpoint to the harsh realities they face. Eichenberg once said that "art should be something that liberates your soul." In this context, the print may reflect on the solace that can be found in human connection amidst broader social and political turmoil. This image reflects the universal need for comfort and security, especially relevant in times of displacement and uncertainty, offering us a meditation on love, resilience, and the search for home.