Asian Mystique

Mystery is a big element of fairy tales and there is no bigger mystery to Western Culture than Eastern culture.  Below are some examples of modern Asian and chinoiserie art that I think could easily be illustrations of Eastern Fairy Tales or themed Western ones.

The first monochromatic painting is a lovely picture of a young girl.  The title 'Harvest'  makes it clearer that she is gathering the leaf like objects that surround her.  I can easily see her as the 'good daughter' that is cruelly subjugated by those who should care for her.  I want to comfort her and tell her, she will get her just reward soon.  By pepperin.

Harvest

 

 

 

The next is a simple picture of a girl in a kimono.  This one is also monochromatic, but in whites and creams instead.  The deceptive richness achieved with the limited palette appeals to the lesson of never underestimating people.  The beggar woman or the ant, they have something to offer.  By meago.

white tea

This last picture of a Korean beauty, trapped in a cage is fought with symbolism.  It rather speaks for itself.  I really appreciate the juxtaposition of clean lines and detail.  By rann-rann.

cage

Evil Queens

The bad guy is essential to a fairy tale.  All plots really need conflict, but since folk and fairy tales are almost cultural distillations of the eternal story, the antagonist is even more important.  They need to be large and in charge, or subtle and competent.  They need to be real and unreal at the same time.  None of that ridiculous exposition.  Otherwise they cannot serve as such good foils for our heroes to overcome!

This post if going to focus on the evil queen.  Spurned, trodden on, a failed heroine, or any number of back stories can be thought up, but usually never revealed.  Bad guys exist in a vacuum. 

From Wen-JR (site), comes a scarred beauty who has assumed her own power.

ROD_GRIFFIN_THRONE

This next one could be the moment of birth for an evil queen.  The moment when heroine turned away from happily ever after and resigned to having to steal others share of happiness, her own eternally denied.  Illustrated by Kay Nielsen.

Last is a delightfully wicked image of a witchy woman.  Her glee and passion very much remind me of the the antagonist as their plot comes to together.  The 'Bwahaha' moment if you will.  I like the supernatural elements that mess with the slight sexuality of the figure.  Very reminiscent of the selling you soul trope.  The illustration is by Sergius Hruby for a German Magazine.

Desecration