Vasilisa Prekrasnai︠a︡ Pl.02
1902
Ivan Bilibin masterfully captures the magic of Russian folklore in this 1900 book illustration for the fairy tale 'Vasilisa the Beautiful.' At the very top, the terrifying witch Baba Yaga soars through a twilight forest in her giant mortar, instantly setting a spooky, magical tone. The title is guarded by two Sirin birds—mythical creatures with women's heads and bird bodies from Slavic legend—drawn in Bilibin's signature flat, graphic style that blends Art Nouveau curves with traditional Russian woodcut aesthetics. The text below begins the tragic story of Vasilisa, whose dying mother gives her a magical doll that will guide her through dark adventures. Bilibin's unique style became the definitive look for Russian fairy tales, influencing everything from Soviet animation to modern fantasy art.