This is how I see it: "Les Miserables"

Contents:

• Gabriel Pacheco
• Pyotr Pinkisevich
• Gustav Brion
• Anatoly Itkin
• Emile Antoine Bayard
• Natalia Salienko

In the category "I See It This Way" showcases the diverse approaches designers and illustrators take to depicting the same subject. Exploring different interpretations helps us find inspiration and develop originality, while also fostering new meanings and associations. Understanding the artistic solutions of other authors enriches our own creative process and opens new horizons in design and illustration.

This article, timed to coincide with the 220th anniversary of Victor Hugo's birth, presents six different interpretations of the novel Les Misérables. We'll look at three illustrations dedicated to the protagonist, Jean Valjean, and three illustrations dedicated to Cosette. These visual images will help you better understand the characters and destinies of the heroes, as well as their influence on the development of the plot of the work.

Gabriel Pacheco

Gabriel Pacheco is a contemporary Mexican artist and illustrator in the visionary art genre. Born in Mexico City in 1973, he trained as a set designer at the National Academy of Fine Arts. Pacheco is known for his illustrations of the works of authors such as Federico García Lorca, fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, and poetry collections of Mexican poets. His works are distinguished by a unique style and profound symbolism, making them in demand in both artistic and literary contexts. Pacheco continues to actively develop as an artist, creating new works that inspire and impress viewers.

Pacheco developed his unique style by immersing himself in the European avant-garde, which was significantly influenced by Marc Chagall. From Chagall, he adopted the angularity and elongated forms that became characteristic of his work. He was also inspired by the surrealist paintings of Hieronymus Bosch and the expressive choreography of Pina Bausch, which added depth and emotional richness to his work. This synthesis of various artistic movements allowed Pacheco to create original works that reflect complex human emotions and experiences.

Gabriel Pacheco's work has received international recognition, participating in various competitions. He was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Prize, and in 2009, his work received a special mention in the New Horizons category at the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Prize. This testifies to the high quality of his work and its significance in the world of illustration.

Working on the Les Miserables project was a significant event for the artist, which provoked deep professional reflection. As a result, he completely changed the original concept. Pacheco spent a lot of time developing the aesthetic idea, abandoning detailed silhouettes and focusing on creating a holistic image and atmosphere. He blurred the details and intensified the Gothic visuals. According to Gabriel, these illustrations brought him success, but left him feeling as if he were being "devoured by a black beast." This project was not only a challenge but also an important stage in his creative journey, reflecting the artist's inner contradictions and emotional experiences. Pacheco's characters are created using patches resembling gutters, from which he forms expressive faces. His works are built on the contrast of light and shadow—black and white—which lends mystery and depth to the images. The shadows in his works serve as a reflection of the characters' inner essence. For example, Jean Valjean is depicted as a sullen man with an elongated face and small, deep-set eyes. The artist uses this imagery to convey the mental state of Hugo's hero, who has endured many trials. Through his images, Pacheco successfully conveys the psychological complexity and tragedy of his characters, which makes his works particularly appealing to viewers.

Pyotr Pinkisevich

Pyotr Pinkisevich — a prominent Soviet and Russian graphic artist and illustrator, born in 1925 in the small town of Bodaibo, located 1,095 kilometers from Irkutsk. After completing his studies at the Leningrad Art School, he was called up to the front, where he served as a junior lieutenant in the 37th Brigade. After the war, Pinkisevich continued his artistic career, working at the Grekov Studio of War Artists in Moscow. His artwork was published in such renowned publications as Smena and Ogonyok, where he demonstrated his talent and unique style. Pyotr Pinkisevich left a significant mark on the field of graphics and illustration, thanks to which his work continues to inspire new generations of artists.

Pinkisevich created illustrations for works by Russian authors such as Mikhail Sholokhov and Ivan Turgenev, as well as foreign classics, including Jack London, Honoré de Balzac, and Victor Hugo. His artistic style emphasized the depth and emotional richness of literary works, making his work sought after by readers and publishers.

Pinkisevich's illustrations for Les Misérables resemble film stills, creating the effect of live action photography. Victor Hugo's characters, frozen in dynamic poses, convey profound emotions. Pinkisevich often uses washed-out color splashes, inspired by Impressionism, which adds expressiveness to his works. A bright and saturated palette serves as the artist's primary tool, creating a light and harmonious image that further reveals the content of the work.

Pinkisevich focuses attention on Jean Valjean, depicting him in close-up, allowing us to examine his tense and pensive face in detail. The hero is immersed in deep thought, and his steadfast gaze emphasizes his inner strength and free spirit. His powerful clasped hands symbolize his endurance and fortitude. Although the action takes place in a penal servitude, Pinkisevich uses vibrant colors, giving the painting emotional richness and dynamism, achieving a dramatic effect through other artistic techniques.

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Test for book lovers: identify the work by the illustration. This exciting test invites you to test your knowledge of literature and recall famous works based on visual cues. Participate and test your knowledge of classic and modern books. Each illustration will be a clue, and your reading experience will help you answer the questions correctly. Share your results and see which literary masterpieces you can recognize.

Gustave Brion

Gustave Brion was a French artist and illustrator from Alsace, born in 1824 in the picturesque commune of Rotho. His work reflects life in his native region, capturing everyday scenes: peasants harvesting potatoes, their conversations at the well, funerals, and wedding dances. Brion masterfully conveyed the atmosphere and spirit of his time, creating works that are not only pleasing to the eye but also reveal insights into the lives of ordinary people. His works are an important contribution to the development of 19th-century French painting and remain relevant for the study of the region's cultural heritage.

In addition to his painting, Brion was also a successful book illustrator. He created some of the first images of such iconic characters as Quasimodo and Esmeralda from Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Brion was also invited to illustrate Les Misérables, but Hugo objected to the inclusion of illustrations in that novel. As a result, Brion released a separate series of illustrations. This collection, consisting of twenty-five images, was mounted on cardboard in three different formats and sold in albums accompanying the book. The illustrations were a huge success, selling thousands of copies. Victor Hugo himself later noted the exceptional quality and precision of Brion's portraits, confirming his talent as an illustrator.

In one of the works in the series, Brion depicts Jean Valjean's theft of silver candlesticks, an act that could have landed him a life sentence in hard labor. Brion masterfully conveys Valjean's inner state: his tense posture, wide-set legs, and thoughtful gaze create an atmosphere of confusion and doubt about the correctness of his decision. This work emphasizes the complexity of moral choice and the character's deep experiences, which makes it relevant in the context of modern social issues.

Anatoly Itkin

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Book Design: The Importance of Illustrations

Book design plays a key role in the perception of the text, and illustrations become an important element helping to better understand the content. Descriptive images not only decorate pages but also enhance the reader's understanding of information, making it more accessible and engaging.

Illustrations can serve as visual cues that help connect the text with its meaning. They can convey emotion, atmosphere, and context, which is especially important in children's literature and educational materials. Properly selected images can deepen understanding of a topic, arousing interest and stimulating the imagination.

High-quality book design considers the harmony between text and images, which contributes to the creation of a holistic work. It is important that illustrations do not distract from the content, but rather complement it, creating a unified visual and textual flow.

Thus, descriptive images in book design serve not simply as decoration, but as an important tool for improving the perception and comprehension of the text.

Émile Antoine Bayard

Émile Antoine Bayard is an outstanding French artist and graphic artist, a contemporary of Victor Hugo. He was born in 1837 in La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, a commune near Paris. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he began his career actively contributing to various magazines. Bayard was a versatile artist, working in a variety of media, including drawing, painting, and murals. He created portraits, historical paintings, and genre scenes, and also dabbled in photography and the study of the Rococo style. But he is best known for his work as an illustrator. Bayard left a significant mark on the art of his time, and his works continue to inspire modern artists and art lovers. One of Bayard's most famous works is a touching engraving of the barefoot Cosette, dressed in rags and holding a broom that is larger than herself. This orphan, accustomed to hard work, sweeps the streets before sunrise. Bayard masterfully created a dramatic image that compels the reader to empathize with the heroine. He emphasizes her twig-thin hands and large, frightened eyes. Frozen in a cold puddle, Cosette is immersed in her thoughts and does not notice the world around her.

Natalia Salienko

Natalia Salienko is a talented Moscow-based illustrator specializing in children's literature. She graduated from the Polygraphic Institute and for many years actively collaborated with the renowned children's magazine "Murzilka." During her artistic career, Natalia has illustrated over 100 children's books, including classics such as Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" and contemporary stories such as Carmen Martin Gaite's "Little Red Riding Hood in Manhattan." Her work has been exhibited not only in Russia but also abroad, including in South Korea, Austria, and Lithuania. In 2015, Natalia Salienko was awarded a prestigious prize at the International Biennial of Illustration in Bratislava, recognizing the high quality of her illustrations and the significance of her contribution to children's literature. In her illustrations for "Les Miserables," the artist uses watercolors and pastel shades, avoiding monochrome. In her interpretation, Cosette emerges as a fairytale heroine, and Natalia conveys the difficult moments in the life of a young orphan with particular warmth. In one illustration, Cosette, dressed in shabby clothes, forgetting all her difficulties, admires a beautiful doll. This image creates a striking contrast: Cosette's harsh reality, associated with daily hard work, contrasts with the carefree and joyful world of children from wealthy families. This approach not only highlights the protagonist's suffering, but also makes us think about social differences and justice in society.