The artwork titled “Underwater. Illustration for the epic ‘Volga'” was created by the artist Ivan Bilibin in the year 1928. This illustration falls under the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement and is part of the ‘Volga’ series.
In the artwork, the viewer is immediately drawn to a vibrant underwater scene teeming with aquatic life. Dominant in the composition is a large, ornately detailed fish adorned with intricate patterns and emitting beams of light from its eyes, which lends an otherworldly aspect to the depiction. Surrounding this creature, smaller fish in various sizes and colors swim, creating a lively and dynamic scene beneath the waves. Above the water, a red ship with a dragon-headed prow sails, filled with figures, set against a backdrop of serene clouds and distant islands. The artwork is framed with a border, enhancing its sense of timelessness and rootedness in folklore, characteristic of both the illustration genre and the Art Nouveau style.
