The artwork titled “Then the Youth took the axe and split the anvil with one blow, catching in the Old Man’s beard at the same time,” crafted by the artist Arthur Rackham, belongs to the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement. This illustration is part of a series from “Snowdrop & Other Tales,” which is a collection of stories by the Brothers Grimm.
The artwork features a dramatic scene where a young man, presumably the youth, wields an axe and delivers a powerful blow that splits an anvil. The force of the strike also entangles the beard of an older man, adding tension and dynamism to the composition. The illustration is characterized by Rackham’s distinctive, intricate line work and careful attention to detail, hallmarks of the Art Nouveau style. The setting appears to be a dimly lit, perhaps subterranean environment, highlighted by a dark background and the shadowy forms that enhance the mysterious and somewhat eerie atmosphere of the scene.
