Ivan Bilibin – Master Illustrator of Russian Folklore and Mythology

Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin (Russian: Ива́н Я́ковлевич Били́бин,1876 – 1942) was a Russian graphic artist and stage/costume designer most famous today for his stylised take on Russian and Slavic folklore. Born in Tarkhovka (near St Petersburg) Bilibin showed much artistic promise as a youngster and went on to study in both Munich and St Petersburg under the tutorage of Anton Ažbe and Ilya Repin respectively. While studying under Repin, he was commissioned by the (then tsarist) Department for the Production of State Documents to illustrate a series of Russian Folk Stories. These would be published in six large format paperback volumes, bringing him praise and recognition from the newly formed ‘World of Art’ group (Mir Istkusstva). Commissions for that circle were to follow, allowing Bilbin to cement his path to a career as an Illustrator. Also of importance during his early career are the two years Bilbin spent travelling the Russian north exploring his love for old wooden architecture and the Russian folklore he was fast becoming synonymous with. These travels he documented in the monograph ‘Folk Arts of the Russian North’ (1904). From 1904 onwards Bilibin became involved with theatre production, working as a designer of both backdrops and costume. His contribution to Diaghilev’s production of the play “Boris Godunov” would bring him world acclaim, whilst his designs for Rimsky-Korsakov’s “The Golden Cockerel” in 1908 would see him elevated to a true master of his field. Disillusioned with 1917 post-revolution Russia Bilbin left the motherland to live in first Cairo and then Paris. However, with tensions rising across Europe he returned to his native Saint Petersberg in 1936 (now Leningrad) where he was appointed Professor of Graphic Art at the Leningrad Institute. Here he would lecture for the remainder of his days. Ivan Bilibin was married three times and had two children from his first marriage. Bilibin died during the Siege of Leningrad and was buried in a collective grave. Music: Вольгаст & Очелье Сороки - На камнях растут деревья Очелье Сороки (Ochelie Soroki) - Егорий (Egoriy) 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 🦉 Follow me on Twitter: 🌌 Flickr: 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰