The artwork “Zmey Gorynych,” created by the artist Ivan Bilibin in 1912, is a notable piece within the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement. This poster exemplifies the genre through its stylized and ornamental elements, which were characteristic of this period in art history.
The artwork depicts the mythical creature Zmey Gorynych, a dragon with three heads, a prominent figure in Slavic folklore. The dragon’s vibrant red scales are intricately detailed, set against a landscape that includes rocky cliffs and a distant body of water. Each of the dragon’s heads displays a fierce expression, with flames emanating from their mouths, adding to the dramatic intensity. The background features a sky with subtle gradations of color, contributing to the overall ethereal quality of the image. Bilibin’s use of bold lines and rich colors are defining attributes of his style, rendering the artwork both striking and evocative.
