The tale of Beauty and the Beast

Etching, which is an illustration of the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast" created by the French writer Gabrielle de Villeneuve. This fairy tale was later reworked by the Russian writer Sergei Aksakov and published under the title "The Scarlet Flower". The story is filled with love and romance and I tried to recreate them in my small illustration. I made the castle of dreams, which towers over a garden with beautiful rose bushes, while Beauty and the Beast meet in the lower part of the engraving, carried away in a gentle conversation! The Beast is romantic and gives the Lady of his heart a small bouquet! The image is a fairy-tale fantasy, with rich textures, which are made by repeatedly etching the copper plate. These textures give the illustration a rich variety of tones and an illusion of magic. The castle on top gives depth to the composition, while the blooming rose bushes soften the entire setting, turning it into something intimate and lively. The Beast, with its beautiful wings and gallant posture, does not seem like a threat, but like a companion in life, like a small pet tamed by the charm and kindness of the Maiden! The calm posture of the girl contributes to this feeling of trust and reciprocity. In this etching I wanted to retell a small legend about the power of love and its victory over evil!