Russian Tolkien illustrations: some inspiration for Middle Earth miniatures ...

[Arundel]

Cor Blok is by far my favourite illustrator of Tolkien's tales. The magic is that he leaves a great deal open for the viewer/reader/s imagination. This is one reason the great man himself liked them (he even bought several); Blok's work also reminded him of traditional, stylistic folk art, which he believed fit the stories well. But then, many loathe them. It's but another case of beauty being in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.

Those Russian illustrations are magnificent for many of the same reasons Blok's are so good. I'd love an English edition of the LOTR with them. Thanks so much for sharing!

[FramFramson]

Yes, the Russians ones come from a different angle thank Cor Blok's work, but they both get at the same idea and thus work very well.

Not that I don't like, say, John Howe, but a potentially in-universe perspective is something wonderful to get a look at.

[Momotaro]

Brilliant find, Hobgoblin!

[Dr Mathias]

I have to echo the comments, those are very interesting. The Romanesque style is really well done.

I teach art history and I really like to show contemporary(ish) examples or revisitations of historical styles along with the period images. These are really intriguing.

[Anselm van Helsing]

Whaaaat...?

Absolutely in love with these. Who owns them today? Must be collectors' pieces.