The Art of Fantasy

[Finchbearer]

This thread aims to showcase the art of fantasy and science fiction as showcased through the work of seminal artists, illustrators and creatives.

The thread more than welcomes likes and comments as well as contributions, but may I request that all contributions follow the same format as the first post.

Without further ado, we begin with;

Arthur Rackham, 1867 - 1939

Known for his distinctive style and his influential work as an illustrator, he is considered a leading figure from the Golden Age of Illustration.

He worked in the realm of classic fiction, fantasy and children’s literature with his illustration characterised by its intricate line work and ethereal flowing movement. His choice of mediums were pencil and Indian ink.

His most notable works include illustrations for Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, The Tempest by Shakespeare and Undine by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué.

Illustration for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1908

Illustration for Alice in Wonderland, 1907

Illustration for King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, 1917

Illustration for The Fish King and the Dog Fish, 1904

 

[Finchbearer]

Mœbius, the pseudonym of Jean Henri Gaston Giraud, 1938 - 2012.

Known for his science fiction and fantasy works that were made in the style known as ligne claire, that translates as clear line, with other artists such as Hergé, who created The Adventures of Tintin working in the same style.

His work is often mind-bending and visionary, with inspiration drawn from science fiction, theology, Eastern philosophy and his own dreams.

He worked on several big commissions including providing concept art for the films, Alien, Tron, The Fifth Element, and The Abyss.

 

[Finchbearer]

Dorothy Pulis Lathrop, 1891 - 1980

Lathrop earned a degree from Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and would eventually become the first person to win the Caldecott medal.

Her inspiration came chiefly from her love of animals and the subtle beauties of the natural world.

Her distinct style can be seen in the bold yet ethereal black and white illustrations that adorned the pages of notable works that included, The Wonderful Adventures of Little Prince Toofat, The Fairy Circus, Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales and The Little Mermaid.

 

[Finchbearer]

Ivan bilibin, 1876 - 1942

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Bilibin pursued an education at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts.

He went on to illustrate a plethora of Russian folklore and fairytales along with other notable works that included, editions of Russian folk tales, fairytales by Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm along with classics of Russian literature such as Alexander Pushkin's ‘Tales of Belkin and Ruslan’ and ‘Ludmila’.

Bilibin’s work is evocative of the vast Russian landscape of culture and folklore, where he drew inspiration from to create richly detailed illustrations of legendary heroes, enchanted lands and mythical creatures.

He left Soviet Russia in 1925 and emigrated to Paris where he continued to work until his death in 1942.

 

[Nim]

This is really cool!

 

[pmmg]

Mœbius, the pseudonym of Jean Henri Gaston Giraud, 1938 - 2012.

Known for his science fiction and fantasy works that were made in the style known as ligne claire, that translates as clear line, with other artists such as Hergé, who created The Adventures of Tintin working in the same style.

His work is often mind-bending and visionary, with inspiration drawn from science fiction, theology, Eastern philosophy and his own dreams.

He worked on several big commissions including providing concept art for the films, Alien, Tron, The Fifth Element, and The Abyss.

The Pictures for this do not show for me, but I can go look them up.

 

[pmmg]

Ivan bilibin, 1876 - 1942

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Bilibin pursued an education at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts.

He went on to illustrate a plethora of Russian folklore and fairytales along with other notable works that included, editions of Russian folk tales, fairytales by Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm along with classics of Russian literature such as Alexander Pushkin's ‘Tales of Belkin and Ruslan’ and ‘Ludmila’.

Bilibin’s work is evocative of the vast Russian landscape of culture and folklore, where he drew inspiration from to create richly detailed illustrations of legendary heroes, enchanted lands and mythical creatures.

He left Soviet Russia in 1925 and emigrated to Paris where he continued to work until his death in 1942.

I love the tapestry type look of these. And I love the detail of on the dress in the bottom most one.

 

[Finchbearer]

The Pictures for this do not show for me, but I can go look them up.

I sourced them all from here. Sorry you can’t see them!

 

[Finchbearer]

John Bauer, 1882 - 1918

Bauer’s illustrative style is characterised by rich detail, ethereal quality, dreamlike landscapes and whimsical characters. Often depicting scenes straight out of Swedish folklore and fairytales, he brought various creatures such as trolls, fairies and elves to life with vivid imagination.

He illustrated editions of Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen along with various children’s books and individual commissions for magazines.

His work has had a profound effect in the world of fantasy illustration and he remains as one of Sweden’s greatest illustrators. Sadly he died in a shipwreck on Lake Vättern in 1918 at just 36 years old, though his illustration lives on and continues to awe and inspire.

 

[Ban]

Great project Finch! I'd post one myself, but given you already addressed Moebius, I reckon Syd Mead will soon arrive as well. In another field entirely, Johfra Bosschart might be worth your attention, and of course my personal art hero Kim Jung Gi (Rest in peace) cannot be left unwritten.

Edit: I'd be happy to add a contribution dedicated to Kim Jung Gi.

 

[Finchbearer]

Please make a contribution ban! One on Kim Jung Gi would be brilliant.

 

[Ban]

Kim Jung Gi (Legally: Kim Jung Ki), Goyang, South Korea 1975 – Paris, France 2022

Kim Jung Gi mastered the art of pen and paper, utilizing the deceptively simple form to create dazzling displays. His work was dynamic, detailed and entirely uninhibited by draft or design, with his compositions and subject matter emerging during the act of drawing itself. He predominantly restricted himself to stream of consciousness drawings done in black and white, with pen, brush and paper as his only tools. Kim Jung Gi eschewed planning for the certainty of ink, accepting that whatever he drew would have to be incorporated into the final work. A daring style reliant on spur-of-the-moment creative insights and constant problem solving, alike a puzzle being placed and designed by the same person at once.

 

[Finchbearer]

Kim Jung Gi is a wonderful addition to the thread - and an introduction for me to an amazing artist.

 

[skip.knox]

Virgil Finlay is a long-time favorite for me. Mostly illustrations for golden-age SF magazines.


but he also did fantasy

 

[pmmg]

I mean, who doesn't know Frank Frazetta?

Water colors, barbarians, bulgy bits... some of the most iconic fantasy pics.

 

[Finchbearer]

Great contributions - keep them coming!

 

[Finchbearer]

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, 1888 - 1960

Hailing from Australia, Outwaite made her signature fantasy illustrations by depicting scenes from fairytales, folk tales and mythology, bringing a hidden world into vivid life.

She gave her work a distinctly Australian feel by incorporating native fauna such as koala bears and lyrebirds in her unique take on the fantasy illustration genre. The subject of her work meant that sometimes it was dismissed though her work is still beloved by those who grew up with her illustrations in picture books from childhood.

 

[Ban]

Jan Toorop, Poerworedjo, Dutch East Indies 1858 - The Hague, Netherlands 1928

An impressionist in his early career, Toorop delved into pointillism, symbolism and art nouveau over the course of his life. His work spanned (among others) portraits, landscapes, advertisements and Roman Catholic imagery, but pertinent to this thread he also explored the fantastic and strange. In the Netherlands he is remembered for his ethereal work drawn predominantly in an idiosyncratic mixture of aforementioned art styles. His imagery is known to have been inspired by both his native Java and Bangka as well as the Dutch landscapes he came to know during and after his studies in the Netherlands, creating an interplay of East and West.


Song of the Times

Fatalism

The New Generation

The Three Brides

 

[Finchbearer]

Viktor Hachmang, 1988 - present

Internationally renowned illustrator Viktor Hachmang creates work that crosses the boundaries between graphic art, comic strip, book illustration and fine art.

His influences and techniques include Ukiyo-e and the European Ligne Claire tradition of comic strips, with his work often described as ‘retro-futurism’, blending both modern-digital and older techniques to create his distinct pastiche style. The themes depicted within his work could be described as genre defying, futuristic and all at the same time familiar.

He has worked on several major projects with clients that include The New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, MIT Technology Review and Wired, along with luxury brands Kenzo Paris, Diesel and Lacoste. He recently specialises in experimental comic books and graphic novels.

 

[Finchbearer]

Magdalena Korzeniewska

Polish illustrator and artist Korzeniewska creates super detailed artwork that depicts epic fantasy such as Game of Thrones, and all things fairytale bordering on the macabre. She creates her work using gel pens.