Russian folk tales in illustrations by Ivan Bilibin. Six books (complete set).

Russian folk tales in illustrations by Ivan Bilibin. Six books (complete set).
Moscow: Goznak, 1986. 12 p. in each. Publisher's cover, album format (23.5 x 30 cm). Stains and dirt on the covers.

 

Set of 6 books:

1. The tale of Ivan-Tsarevich, the Firebird and the grey wolf.

2. Sister Alyonushka and brother Ivanushka. White duck.

3. The Feather Of Finist Clear Falcon.

4. Marya Morevna.

5. Vasilisa The Beautiful.

6. The Frog Princess. 

[August 16, 1876 was born one of the greatest masters of the Russian romantic art Nouveau style, artist, graphic artist and Illustrator Ivan Bilibin. His colorful illustrations of Russian fairy tales and epics, made in a characteristic and very recognizable decorative and graphic ornamental manner, are known all over the world.

Bilibin's works are largely based on stylization of Russian folk and medieval art motifs.

Ivan Bilibin can be called a real star of Russia at the beginning of the XX century, he was a famous designer of the most high-profile theatrical productions, illustrated bright book novelties, was successful and popular.

While still a student, he became a member of the new Association of artists "Mir iskusstva", and by the time he graduated from the University, he had already developed his own, very recognizable artistic style, which later became known as the "Bilibin" style.

He drew perfect black contours with the thinnest column brush - the Bilibin line was called "steel wire"for its clarity and firmness. Inside the contour, the artist used a solid fill of color, which made his work resemble artful stained-glass Windows.

The refined Bilibin technique combined with the elegance of modernism popular at the beginning of the last century, while preserving the native identity - it is not surprising that folk tales designed by the artist immediately became fashionable.

Bilibin spent a lot of time in ethnographic expeditions, studying primary sources, collecting antiquities - so his artistic skill was supported by a great knowledge of the subject. In addition, fairy tales with his illustrations were published perfectly, they were the standard of book design of those years, a well-thought-out single book ensemble with a typical cover, letters and ornaments.

But the impending revolution, which at first the artist even welcomed, destroyed the usual way of life and soon Bilibin fled-first to the Crimea, and then, in 1920, on the ship "Saratov" reached the Egyptian Alexandria. And from Egypt, he soon moved to Paris, where he opened his own art Studio, which gave him a good source of income.

Nevertheless, Bilibin was disappointed with his position, life in Europe, and homesick; in 1935, he received a Soviet passport and a year later, with his wife and son, came to Leningrad. He was well received, given an apartment on Gulyarnaya street, and made a Professor in the graphic Studio at the art Academy. He was in demand and successful, designed "the Tale of Tsar Saltan" and "the Song of the merchant Kalashnikov", worked as a decorator in the Moscow Palace of Soviets.

When the war began, Bilibin refused to leave Leningrad. He died on February 7, 1942 and is buried without a coffin, in the mass grave of professors of the Academy of arts near the Smolensk cemetery.]