Imagery  |  GRAPHICS  |  PRINTMAKING

'The Awakening of Quendi' / fragment / soft-ground etching, aquatint, mezzotint, drypoint, open biting, copper plates / 2021

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Anastasia Rybakova’s diploma project consists of a series of five graphic sheets inspired by the literary and mythological epic The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien, executed in the etching technique in its various forms: soft-ground etching, aquatint, mezzotint, drypoint, and etched line. Anastasia sets herself a very ambitious and challenging goal — to illustrate one of the final and most densely populated with characters and fantastical events works by the English fantasy writer J. R. R. Tolkien. She is the first among Belarusian artists to undertake the creation of large-scale illustrations for selected chapters of the novel.

The compositions are predominantly figurative; however, the characters of the series are placed within a fantastical, otherworldly environment constructed through technical diversity and the author’s reinterpretation of the literary source. In this work, high technical skill is successfully combined with a profound раскрыццё (interpretation) of the literary narrative. Through the multifaceted nature of the chosen techniques and their masterful execution, Anastasia conveys the fantastical and mythological mood of each character, building what can be described as Tolkien’s “universe.” The artist creates convincing character types without resorting to exaggerated stylization. All parts of the series are unified by a consistent compositional and stylistic approach, and each clearly reveals its compositional and semantic center.

'The Awakening of Quendi' / soft-ground etching, aquatint, mezzotint, drypoint, open biting, copper plates / 2021

Undoubtedly, the most striking aspect is the diversity of technical approaches and their artistic qualities: dense, saturated lines intersect with smooth tonal transitions, creating an interplay of varied textures. Sharp flashes of light appear in certain areas, generating tension and contrast in relation to the deep black lines and spots, thus forming an expressive, emotionally charged, and mysterious visual language throughout the entire series.

It should be noted that the diploma project aligns with contemporary trends in visual art and is highly relevant in terms of the stylistic features of the author’s approach, both in easel graphics and in the field of book illustration. The diploma work can be awarded the highest possible grade.

'Creation of Arda' / 'Nienna and Irmo' / soft-ground etching, aquatint, mezzotint, drypoint, open biting, copper plates / 2021

'The Secret City of Gondolin' / soft-ground etching, aquatint, mezzotint, drypoint, open biting, copper plates / 2021

Biography:
Anastasia Rybakova is a Belarusian graphic artist, a graduate of the Belarusian State Academy of Arts (2021), and lives and works in Minsk.

Contacts:
Instagram
Behance

The Silmarillion is a diploma project of the Graphics Department at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts.

Supervisor: Raman Sustav
Reviewer: Ksenia Zhukovskaya

All materials are taken from the artist’s personal archives.

Reprinting of the material or excerpts from the material is permitted only with the written consent of the editorial team.

If you notice an error or would like to suggest an addition to the published materials, please let us know.

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