THE SAGAS OF ICELANDERS
This publication is based on four Icelandic “family sagas”. The calligraphically written text of the tales is accompanied by illustrations created by four gifted Russian artists. The book was accorded its own individual exhibition in the State Hermitage in 2004.
Painter, graphic artist, creator of ex-libris and inventive sculptural assemblages. Awarded grants by the Foundation of the Trustees of the Mariinsky Theatre and by the Foundation of the President of Russia. Has taken part in more than 120 exhibitions in Russia and abroad, of which 18 have been solo exhibitions. Member of the Artists’ Union of Russia.
Graphic artist, painter, book illustrator, teacher. Has taken part in more than 300 exhibitions in Russia and abroad, including 65 solo exhibitions. Member of the Artist’s Union and of the International Association of Art Critics. Honoured Artist of Russia.
One of the most successful European practitioners of small-format graphic art, an outstanding master of the mezzotint technique. Worked extensively in poster design in the 1980s–90s, while simultaneously mastering etching techniques. Member of the Artists’ Union of Russia.
Painter (in oil and tempera) and printmaker. Has illustrated more than 30 books and created more than 100 ex-libris. Has taken part in numerous Russian and international exhibitions and competitions. Member of the Artists’ Union of Russia.
Graphic artist, painter, calligrapher, ex-libris designer and book illustrator. Creator of unique books and playing cards. As a graphic artist, his main medium is hand-coloured etchings. He has designed and illustrated more than 250 books. Member of the Artists’ Union of Russia.
Additional information
Details of the creation of this masterpiece
-
Year of publication:2004
-
Number of pages:192
-
Dimensions:435 х 325 mm
-
Paper:Hahnemühle (Germany), 230 g/m², handmade
The Old Norse word saga means “something said or told” and in the olden days it was used to mean a tale told orally. After a system of writing appeared, the word was also applied to a written tale, and then acquired the narrower meaning of a written account of noteworthy events of the past.
Several types of sagas are known: “legendary sagas”, “bishops’ sagas”, sagas about life in Iceland in the 12th and 13th centuries, “lying sagas” about fictional events. The most original and most interesting for modern readers are those grouped together in the category “family sagas” that tell the story of members of one clan. The group is also known as the “sagas of Icelanders”, because their personages are always people who lived in Iceland. The different family sagas deal with events that took place on that island between AD 930 and 1030.
Participants in the work on this publication:
Idea for the publication and financial support for the project — Roman Abramovich
Creators of the illustrations — Mikhail Gavrichkov, Yury Lyukshin, Yury Borovitsky, Boris Zabirokhin
Calligraphy — Yury Nozdrin
Printing of the etchings — Alexander Mikhailov, Boris Zabirokhin, Yury Borovitsky
Layout — David Plaksin
Academic consultant — Boris Zharov
The design on the cover, made up of letters and a frame with a symbolic depiction of Iceland on the front — Pavel Yekushev, Victor Nikolsky
Binding work — Andrei Degtev, Konstantin Svetlov
by 17th-century Eastern Slavonic cursive script.
Four different artists worked on the illustrations for the book. Yury Borovitsky, who made the illustrations for Egil's Saga in the mezzotint technique, is close to the traditions of the late-19th-century German Symbolists.
Boris Zabirokhin illustrated the Saga of Grettir the Strong in the dry-point technique. This artist achieves a sense of the fantastic through his specific interpretation of the real world, employing differences of scale and expressive hyperbolism.
Mikhail Gavrichkov produced etchings for the Saga of Gunnlaugur Serpent-Tongue. The artist filled the surface of the page, thoroughly working up the large forms.
Yury Lyukshin’s illuminated etchings for Njál’s Saga are compositions that form a mosaic of a fantastic life.
A historical event – Iceland’s conversion to Christianity – became the foundation for the visual element of the book. Each artist produced 12 illustrations.
The front cover is “entwined” by the mythical Midgard Serpent Jörmungandr, cast and chased in metal, attempting to swallow a stylized depiction of the island of Iceland.
The endpapers are made of moiré silk. The book has a storage case decorated with fabric.
Additional information
Details of the creation of this masterpiece
-
Year of publication:2004
-
Number of pages:192
-
Dimensions:435 х 325 mm
-
Paper:Hahnemühle (Germany), 230 g/m², handmade
The Old Norse word saga means “something said or told” and in the olden days it was used to mean a tale told orally. After a system of writing appeared, the word was also applied to a written tale, and then acquired the narrower meaning of a written account of noteworthy events of the past.
Several types of sagas are known: “legendary sagas”, “bishops’ sagas”, sagas about life in Iceland in the 12th and 13th centuries, “lying sagas” about fictional events. The most original and most interesting for modern readers are those grouped together in the category “family sagas” that tell the story of members of one clan. The group is also known as the “sagas of Icelanders”, because their personages are always people who lived in Iceland. The different family sagas deal with events that took place on that island between AD 930 and 1030.
Participants in the work on this publication:
Idea for the publication and financial support for the project — Roman Abramovich
Creators of the illustrations — Mikhail Gavrichkov, Yury Lyukshin, Yury Borovitsky, Boris Zabirokhin
Calligraphy — Yury Nozdrin
Printing of the etchings — Alexander Mikhailov, Boris Zabirokhin, Yury Borovitsky
Layout — David Plaksin
Academic consultant — Boris Zharov
The design on the cover, made up of letters and a frame with a symbolic depiction of Iceland on the front — Pavel Yekushev, Victor Nikolsky
Binding work — Andrei Degtev, Konstantin Svetlov
by 17th-century Eastern Slavonic cursive script.
Four different artists worked on the illustrations for the book. Yury Borovitsky, who made the illustrations for Egil's Saga in the mezzotint technique, is close to the traditions of the late-19th-century German Symbolists.
Boris Zabirokhin illustrated the Saga of Grettir the Strong in the dry-point technique. This artist achieves a sense of the fantastic through his specific interpretation of the real world, employing differences of scale and expressive hyperbolism.
Mikhail Gavrichkov produced etchings for the Saga of Gunnlaugur Serpent-Tongue. The artist filled the surface of the page, thoroughly working up the large forms.
Yury Lyukshin’s illuminated etchings for Njál’s Saga are compositions that form a mosaic of a fantastic life.
A historical event – Iceland’s conversion to Christianity – became the foundation for the visual element of the book. Each artist produced 12 illustrations.
The front cover is “entwined” by the mythical Midgard Serpent Jörmungandr, cast and chased in metal, attempting to swallow a stylized depiction of the island of Iceland.
The endpapers are made of moiré silk. The book has a storage case decorated with fabric.
THE SAGAS OF ICELANDERS
The most original and most interesting sagas telling the stories of members of one clan