One of many reasons why I’m captivated by scents is their ability to take me out of the ordinary and into the world of fantasies. They inspire me to dream, but because a perfume is a story with a set of characters, plot twists and backdrop changes, there is always a sense of discovery. In this spirit of discovery, if you have 10 minutes, I would like to invite you on a short animated journey with “Hedgehog in the Fog”.
Why this film and what does it have to do with perfume? At first glance, little, but its themes of curiosity, adventure, and discovery, its lyrical atmosphere, and its fascinating characters plunge me into the same dreamy state as the best perfumes. Hedgehog in the Fog, created by Yuriy Norshteyn in 1975, is also a must see because it’s an animation masterpiece, cited by renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki and director Michel Gondry as one of their favorites.
I won’t tell you the story, which is very simple, but every second of this 10 minute film is exquisite, supported by incredible drawing, muted colors, and a haunting soundtrack. It was made for children, but it’s really a little philosophical tale for adults.
“‘I wonder,’ thought hedgehog, ‘if the horse falls asleep, will it drown in the fog?’ And he started descending into the fog to see what it was like inside.”
97 Comments
George: Lovely! Like the Ninth Wave but with a hedgehog! October 31, 2014 at 7:54am
Victoria: I’ll have to check that one out! October 31, 2014 at 11:38am
Michaela: One of the best animations I’ve ever seen!
I was especially impressed by Someone who brings the Hedgehog to the shore. No face, no name. The elegant modest savior. And by the nice dog who merely brought him his lost luggage. And by the innocent baby bear, unaware of his friends quest.
Excellent, thank you. October 31, 2014 at 8:06am
Victoria: There are so many details in this little film that I can watch it over and over again. I also love the moment when he finds that tall tree… October 31, 2014 at 11:40am
Michaela: Yes, indeed. I kept on remembering scenes over the whole week-end 🙂 November 3, 2014 at 4:16am
Victoria: It has so many facets, this little story! November 3, 2014 at 6:28pm
Aisha: That was beautiful! Yes, at first it seems like such a simple story. But there really is more to it. I love how Hedgehog discovers more and more with each step. It really is kind of like discovering the complexity of a perfume. October 31, 2014 at 9:02am
Victoria: Yes, I agree. On the surface it’s pretty simple, but there is so much packed into those 10 minutes. October 31, 2014 at 11:41am
spe: Wonderful and sobering allegory. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. For animation fans, for a fantastic, albeit sad, movie consider “Grave of the Fireflies”. October 31, 2014 at 9:09am
Victoria: Norshtein’s “The Tale of Tales” is also worth watching. He is such a genius.
Thank you for the recommendation. I will definitely watch. October 31, 2014 at 11:48am
Cornelia Blimber: This animation is a true masterpiece. Wonderful, thank you for sharing! October 31, 2014 at 9:20am
Julie: I enjoyed this film, the fog, cute and adorable hedgehog. All of characters were so sweet especially that dog :). A masterpiece for sure, thank you for sharing this. A dreamy state of mind, just wonderful! Have a great weekend… October 31, 2014 at 10:10am
Victoria: You too, Julie!
I read that they’ve used a very intricate technique to create the foggy effect, and yes, it’s so dream-like. October 31, 2014 at 11:56am
Victoria: Very happy that you enjoyed it! October 31, 2014 at 11:49am
Annette: Victoria, thank you! It is absolutely beautiful. The Hedgehog will be my hero from now on. I know I will be tempted to answer any question about my identity with this delicious: “Ya yozik.” 🙂
And maybe slightly off topic (but ever so slightly!), I can’t help wishing I knew how to let my imagination take me on a wave of fragrance and carry me to some never-seen-before lands, inhabited by whatever creatures, be it white horses, owls or kings long forgotten. In other words: my enchantment with perfume is quite static; I delight in a scent, conjure some image or association with it and… just stay there. I have tried to combine perfume with literature, with my beloved characters, stories, plots etc., but it is still going hard. Maybe it is all silly what I am saying and not quite coherent, but any suggestions from you, lovely fragrant people, would be so much welcome!
PS Ya yozik 🙂 October 31, 2014 at 9:24am
Victoria: I also love the way he says it. I’m tempted to quote other parts of the dialogue, but I don’t want to include too many spoilers. 🙂
Did you catch the small scent reference in the end? October 31, 2014 at 11:50am
Victoria: As for your question, which is very interesting–some of it has to do with perfume itself. Some scents are more inspiring than others. But for instance, you could imagine reading a story what perfumes the characters might be wearing and then you try that same fragrance and envision yourself playing a role. Or try a perfume you would ordinarily not wear, maybe because it is too different from your usual favorites and see how it makes you feel. Some of the most jolting, interesting experiences come from pushing the boundary of what’s comfortable. October 31, 2014 at 11:54am
Annette: Thank you for your advice. I will cerainly try it! Who knows? I might start by helping the Hedgehog dust the stars 🙂
Oh, I did not catch the scent reference at the end of the animation. My Russian is almost gone now. Please tell 🙂 November 1, 2014 at 9:46am
Victoria: It was in the English subtitles only (in the original Russian, it was kind of implied). It’s towards the very end when the Little Bear talks. November 1, 2014 at 12:02pm
Annette: Ha, you know what I did yesterday? Checked my local library’s online catalogue and – miracles of miracles – they had a copy of Kozlov’s stories!! So I rushed out, got to the library 20 minutes before closing time and spent the evening relishing in the seven stories included in the volume with some very cute illustrations. My favourire one is about the Bunny who is afraid of everything. And I love this clever observation from the Hedgehog: “You can think in variuos ways but say the same thing.” 🙂 November 1, 2014 at 9:41am
Victoria: Nice! 🙂 I love those stories, especially the one about the Bunny. They are innocent, cute stories, but as you say, they are clever and philosophical. November 1, 2014 at 12:19pm
JanLast: My imagination spills into my dreams at night. A shower with a nearly odorless soap (it smells like a washed rock), then a fantasy scent, something I would not wear daily, such as vintage Guerlain Dawamesk, and I am off. Since they are my dreams, I am always the heroine of whatever is happening, and I’m convinced whichever scent I choose helps the dreams along. As I turn during the night, those scents are caressing my brain as well as my bed to make for long, lovely dreams.
I’m very sure this 10 minutes of beauty will find its way into my nights. Thank you for that. October 31, 2014 at 10:06am
Victoria: I also have many vivid dreams, and I feel like I lead another life in my dreams. 🙂 I don’t dream of scents often, though, but I remember once having a dream of walking through the rose garden and smelling this most amazing perfume all around me. October 31, 2014 at 11:55am
solanace: I like to wear roses to sleep. Ce Soir ou Jamais is perfect. There are awesome cities in my dreams, a pastiche of my favorite city parts. I wish I could draw! November 2, 2014 at 3:34am
Claudia: I Loved the two references to the juniper twigs October 31, 2014 at 11:19am
Victoria: Me too! 🙂 October 31, 2014 at 12:01pm
Austenfan: What an enchanting little film! I never knew that I loved the genre until I happened upon a Dutch animated film a couple of years ago. Totally different from the little hedgehog and maybe not such an invitation to dream but it does make you wonder about life and its cycles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e10dY07KBMk October 31, 2014 at 11:21am
Victoria: I will definitely watch it, thank you!
In the Soviet times, animation was pretty much the only area where you could avoid the politics and propaganda, or even add some subtle satire. In the book on which this animation was based, there is a wonderful little dialogue. The hedgehog is standing, looking at the stars. An ant wonders why he is standing around doing nothing. A squirrel says, “he is thinking.” Ant: “Thinking?! Imagine what would happen if everyone started thinking!” October 31, 2014 at 12:04pm
Austenfan: I was wondering that. Watching it I was once again aware of how different the use of images is in this Russian film compared to a Western European film. I also remember when I visited the Kandinsky exhibition in Brussels how much references to fairy tales his work contained.
I love your squirrel quote. It reminded me of the Dutch children’s book series called Frog, by Max Velthuis.
Have you ever read the Wind in the Willows?
I think you would love it. I adore Winnie the Pooh but I prefer the W.i.t.W’s. October 31, 2014 at 12:16pm
Victoria: No, I haven’t read it, but I definitely will look into it. My favorite children’s book used to be the ones by Tove Jansson, about The Moomins.
I remember reading that Kandinsky hardly painted during the time he lived in the Soviet Union (he returned to Moscow in 1914 and left for Germany a few years later, mostly because he found the atmosphere stifling), and his focus on the fairy tales and mystical images is probably more cultural than political. There is, after all, a rich body of folklore. I remember my Russian grandmother telling me stories every night, and they were incredible, full of fantastic characters, spirits, warriors riding fire horses and maidens made of flower petals. I’m sure she improvised and added her own details, but it was clear that these were the stories she herself heard from her grandmother. October 31, 2014 at 12:31pm
Victoria: On a totally different subject, if you visit Brussels soon, please be sure to see the wonderful exhibits at the Bozar on Rubens and the art of Sienna. Really well-curated! October 31, 2014 at 12:53pm
Austenfan: Thank you for mentioning that. I need to stock up on some teas so a visit is on the agenda! November 1, 2014 at 8:58am
Hamamelis: One of my favourite books when I was a child Austenfan, thank you for reminding me! If you like Van Morrison, he has a lovely song inspired by the Wind in the Willows, ‘The piper at the gates of dawn’, where he sings “and they were unafraid of the great god Pan”. You can find it on youtube. Another favourite was the Secret Garden…more dreams. November 1, 2014 at 4:27am
Austenfan: Oh dear, that should be “many” and not “much”. I must have been really tired yesterday. November 1, 2014 at 8:59am
Michaela: Impressive! Thank you for the link. November 3, 2014 at 6:59am
Aurora: Thank you so much for making me discover this wonderful animated film.
I love it that there is such variety in your posts.
. October 31, 2014 at 11:27am
Victoria: I’m glad to hear it! As much as I love writing perfume reviews, there is so much more enjoying scents than just perfume in the bottle. Plus, it’s fun to share some of my favorite things with all of you here. October 31, 2014 at 12:00pm
Meg O.: This is my favorite short film. It’s just beautiful. Thank you for the nudge to re-watch! October 31, 2014 at 11:40am
Victoria: My pleasure, Meg! I remember watching it as a child, but I think I understood it better as an adult. October 31, 2014 at 11:58am
marini: Thank you so much Victoria! This just made my day, the understated colors, the beautiful music, the journey, the white horse, the way it can inspire me to think about it in all sorts of metaphorical ways. That was a gem! Loved every second of it (whilst sniffing my liberally applied Habanita edp)
I have been so wanting a good animation of late–the recent ones I see in Short Films just have not done much for me. So many thanks, again. October 31, 2014 at 12:41pm
Victoria: It makes me very happy that you enjoyed it so much. I really think that this little film is such a treasure. A perfect thing to watch after a long day just to fall into a reverie and forget about everything else. Now, I just need a cup of tea and some raspberry jam, although this being the Friday night, a glass of wine will be even better. 🙂 October 31, 2014 at 12:55pm
Maren: So so delightful! Thank you for sharing. Today I ordered a sample of Masque Milano Russian Tea, and I haven’t smelled it yet, but how I imagine it to be from the notes I think will match the mood at the end when bear and hedgehog are at the fire ready to share tea from the samovar. October 31, 2014 at 1:30pm
Victoria: A very good smoky tea is Comme des Garcons’s Tea. But I’m curious what Masque Milano is like. November 1, 2014 at 8:50am
Maren: Victoria, the notes are listed as mint, black pepper, raspberry, black tea, magnolia, everlasting flower, leather accord, incense, birchwood and cistus labdanum. I have high hopes for it as I really like the other fragrance I tried from this line, Terralba. But now I would like to try the CdG Tea also. November 2, 2014 at 12:49am
Victoria: Oh, the notes make it intriguing! Well, hope that it will be good. I haven’t tried anything from this line yet. November 2, 2014 at 6:45am
Gentiana: The film is so heartbreakingly innocent and beautiful…. And brings so many thoughts….
Thank you !
And yes, deffinitely I need a big cup of tea and some raspberry jam…
Did I ever tell you that I have raspberry bushes in my garden and we make our own raspberry jam ?
The film makes me feel the smell of autumn as it is in my garden: drying leaves and grass, some apples rotting on the ground, the smell of earth, smoke, and, yes, the smell of FOG. The fog has a special smell.
In the same time, the hedgehog-movie wil remain anchored for me to the strange mixture I have on me:
– Sacred wood (by Kilian, sample) applied at 11 O Clock
– Attar al Quassoor (Al Haramain) applied at 17 O clock.
Woods, Incense, rose, saffron, smoke… A good fit.
A stelar moment after a horrific week. October 31, 2014 at 1:47pm
Victoria: Glad that you had a nice way to wind down and I hope that next week will be better for you!
What a treat it is to have jam made out of homegrown fruit! When I was little, raspberry jam was somewhat of a special treat, and we usually had it when we were sick. It was believed that it helps soothe sore throats. These days our raspberry bushes have all died, and we weren’t too successful at growing raspberries again, so we buy berries from our neighbor. My grandmother devises a frozen raspberry jam, which avoids cooking and preserves the fresh taste. November 1, 2014 at 8:53am
Marsi: As I was watching this, it made me think of Bjork’s video for “Human Behavior” — very similar in the look and feel. Michel Gondry was its director, and I just read that that is the sense he was trying to evoke in Bjork’s video. I watched this while sipping the Shalimar tea you devised a recipe for a few months ago, and wearing Chanel No. 5. October 31, 2014 at 3:09pm
Victoria: What a nicely scented evening!
My husband also made the connection, and when I read about the film, I saw the mention of Bjork’s video and Gondry’s comment. November 1, 2014 at 8:54am
Mer: Lovely! Fog is one of my all-time favourite things (and painting themes). The fog effect was very nicely achieved! Not easy :))
Now to find a perfume that captures the effect of fog, something that never occurred to me before. October 31, 2014 at 3:57pm
Victoria: Frederic Malle’s Eau d’Hiver smells very misty to me. And in a different register, but Chanel No 22 has a hazy feel to me. November 1, 2014 at 8:56am
Hannah: I think Tubereuse Criminelle is foggy/misty/hazy. I wanted it as a summer fragrance, but now I like it more for damp autumn days, and probably misty spring days as well. November 1, 2014 at 9:17am
Victoria: It changes so much on me and blooms differently depending on the weather. When it’s hot, the minty-green notes vanish quickly, and it smells fruity, sweet, lush. But on a cold day, it has more of that cool, misty feel you’re describing. It’s an interesting, shape-shifting perfume. November 1, 2014 at 9:21am
Mer: Thank you both for the recommendations! (and sorry for my late response) I haven’t tried Tubereuse Criminelle, but indeed I find Fracas to be very different in character in summer and in winter. I usually prefer it in winter, but when the mood strikes in summer, it can be even better.
Eau d’Hiver sounds like I might either love it or hate it 😀 I sure must try it when I get the chance. November 7, 2014 at 9:51am
maja: Magical! Thank you so much. I grew up watching Russian movies for children on Sunday mornings. They always had a dreamlike and visionary atmosphere and the nature played such a big role each time.
I have recently bought a book of Russian tales for my son. He enjoys the stories and illustrations so much. October 31, 2014 at 4:23pm
Victoria: I don’t remember my maternal Ukrainian grandmother telling many fairy tales. Mostly she told me stories based on historical events, lives of poets, writers, painters. And Titanic! That was my favorite story and I kept asking her to tell it to me over and over again. But she bought me lots of books, and many of them were fairy tale books–Hans Christian Andersen’s stories, English legends, Vietnamese tales, Indian tales, Japanese, etc.
The best Russian fairy tales are the ones written by Aleksander Pushkin. There are also many excellent translations. November 1, 2014 at 9:02am
Hamamelis: Dear V. Can you recommend an English translation of Pushkin’s fairy tales? On amazon I found lovely illustrated ones…but in Russian…! November 2, 2014 at 4:22am
Victoria: I never looked into them; I only know from friends in the academia that it is a vibrant field. But there is a Dutch translator, Hans Boland, whose work is so highly regarded that he was even honored with the prestigious Pushkin Award (which incidentally he refused to accept from the Russian government, because he doesn’t agree with its current politics; one has to admire such people with principles). November 2, 2014 at 6:15am
Austenfan: I read about that. He wrote a beautiful letter to the cultural attaché in The Hague stating that his huge admiration for Pushkin and Achmatova prompted him to be forthright about his hate for Putin and his fear that his (P’s)ideas were detrimental to world peace and freedom. November 2, 2014 at 6:42am
Victoria: I so admire him for taking the stance. Very impressive, and of course, I cannot agree more with what he said. November 2, 2014 at 7:00am
Hamamelis: I will look him up, thank you Victoria and Austenfan for the additional info. November 2, 2014 at 6:58am
Hannah: I’m wearing Fille en Aiguilles, which put me in an imaginative mood. I also think it is a good accompaniment for this film.
I love Russian animation. I haven’t seen a lot of it, but I also like the Bremen Town Musicians and Winnie the Pooh.
Tomorrow I will go to a Turkish bakery for samovar tea and raspberry jam cookies. October 31, 2014 at 5:36pm
Victoria: The Bremen Town Musicians has such a hippy, cool 70s kids look! I was watching it recently when a friend’s little son, and it really made me chuckle. 🙂 November 1, 2014 at 9:03am
Ann: I miss fairy tales so much. I read my favorite collection to my boys when they were younger, but they just never loved them as much as I did. An aunt gave me a heavy bound book of stories by Pavol Dobšinský (with wonderful illustrations by Slovak artist Ľudovít Fulla) when I was about four. My father would exchange my name for every princess, fairy or good witch in the stories… Memories of the little hedgehog in the fog are sending me upstairs to look for Dobšinský –a good antidote to the dozens of children who will be ringing our doorbell this evening dressed as zombies, superheroes, and kittenish versions of Sacagawea (drives me nuts!) October 31, 2014 at 8:06pm
Victoria: What a sweet thing to do! He made you participate in the stories. 🙂 November 1, 2014 at 9:04am
Tourmaline: Hi Victoria,
I know that it probably wasn’t intended in this sense, but “Hedgehog in the Fog” was a wonderful short film to arrive in my email inbox just after 11 pm, Australian time, on Halloween!
It reminds me of the work of a Czech film-maker whom I admire, Jan Švankmajer. His 1988 film, “Alice”, was a wonderful, dark version of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, combining live action and stop-motion animation. It is a feature length film, but Švankmajer also made many short films. (“The Complete Short Films”, a three-disc DVD set, was released about ten years ago.) October 31, 2014 at 8:08pm
Victoria: Jan Švankmajer’s work sounds fascinating! I read a bit about him online, and he seems to have embraced many different styles. I will have to look for one of his films. Thank you. November 1, 2014 at 9:06am
Tourmaline: I’m sure that you’d enjoy his films, Victoria. I’m particularly fond of “Alice”. The little girl who plays the lead is amazing, and the whole film is wonderfully surreal. Fortunately, that particular DVD and others are easy to find on Amazon. November 2, 2014 at 4:12am
Victoria: He was described as a surrealist, and I like that genre. Definitely on my to watch list! November 2, 2014 at 6:46am
Hamamelis: What an absolute gem Victoria, a gift to start this Saturday with (a lovely day it is here, with the geese flying over…and a little noisy hedgehog in the garden!). This is true art, the craftmanship, the music (that wonderful clarinet) and the slow pace. Beauty that will reveal something everytime I will watch I believe. My dog approved by happy barkings whenever the owl called. Thank you for making this blog a place where beauty is shared. We all need it! November 1, 2014 at 4:23am
Victoria: Your dog sounds like a fun companion! 🙂
That clarinet is exquisite, isn’t it! Sometimes I play this film just to hear the music. November 1, 2014 at 9:09am
Brenda: This a lovely short – so full of emotion. It took me back to the 1970’s when I worked at an animation studio…and we all knew that without emotion, you had no character…only paint and ink. What you have so graciously treated us to is a beautiful work of art!
In parts of Canada we are tickling the outskirts of winter’s arrival. At this time of year, I start to reach for an old, trusted beauty aid. Neutrogena’s Sesame Formula Body Oil helps to ease my skin towards the cold weather by softening, warming and soothing. It is luxurious…lightly scented and so kind to knees and elbows. So, a shout out to an old and trusted stand-by…hope it never disappears! I will enjoy a camomile tea this evening…and watch my new hedgehog friend again. With thanks… November 1, 2014 at 4:33pm
Victoria: Your work must have been fascinating–to create fantasies for children (or adults!) And it’s true, the best characters are the ones that you can relate to, the ones that touch your emotions.
I also love Neutrogena’s Sesame Formula Body Oil, and I even asked my mom to bring me a bottle of it from the States. The scent is very light but pleasant, and the texture is great. I usually use pure almond or argan oils, which moisturize my skin better than the dry oils, but Neutrogena is a favorite. November 2, 2014 at 6:42am
solanace: This is beautiful, thank you, Victoria.
And now I want to know how juniper smoke smells like! November 1, 2014 at 6:47pm
Victoria: Me too! 🙂 The smell of juniper berries is wonderful–sharp, peppery and piney, and I keep them on hand to add to meat marinades and sauteed cabbage. November 2, 2014 at 6:43am
solanace: Yes, I love juniper berries and the smell of gin, though I’m too weak now to drink it, lol! November 2, 2014 at 6:57am
Victoria: I can’t drink gin, although I love the smell. I don’t do well with hard liquor!
By the way, when you sign in to comment, please remove the exclamation point from the “website” field. It can just be left empty. Otherwise, the blog gets confused and automatically assigns your comments to spam folder. We don’t want that! 🙂 November 2, 2014 at 7:04am
solanace: I had not seen it, thank’s Victoria!
Same thing here, hard liquor is too much for me! Love a cold beer, though! 🙂
And thank you again for the poetic video. Extreme right is on the streets here right now asking for a military intervention, because they are angry the moderate socialists won. Scaaaary. It’s so nice to count on you to bring us beauty always, no matter what. Thank you, sincerely, Victoria. That’s what being a female is all about, keeping beauty alive.
Love,
A. November 2, 2014 at 8:42am
Victoria: I’m thinking of you! Hope it will not devolve into anything. Meanwhile, lots of good, comforting thoughts to you. November 2, 2014 at 10:22am
Cornelia Blimber: That must be terrifying. You are in my thoughts. May sound, common sense prevail. November 2, 2014 at 11:33am
solanace: Thank you, Cornelia. It seems it will. Their own party repudiated this. But I personally think these people should spend a few days in our democratic jail, to think a little. After all, this is a crime according to our constitution. November 2, 2014 at 12:57pm
solanace: Thank you, Victoria. It will all be good, they are few. But this is ugly, ugh. November 2, 2014 at 12:58pm
Victoria: I can just imagine! I’m glad that things settled down. November 3, 2014 at 1:58am
OperaFan: Dear V – Just wanted to thank you for introducing me to this little film. As you say, it’s absolutely exquisite.
I look forward to sharing it with my 8 year old. November 1, 2014 at 8:42pm
Victoria: I can’t be happier to hear that you and others liked this little Hedgehog. It has been one of my favorite characters since childhood, and I love introducing him to others. 🙂 November 2, 2014 at 6:45am
allgirlmafia: Victoria,
You are relentlessly beautiful, as always. I found this little film soothing, Thank you for sharing. November 2, 2014 at 6:47pm
Victoria: Very glad I decided to introduce you to the Little Hedgehog! 🙂 Soothing is a good way to describe this film. It’s so positive too. A tribute to curiosity, little pleasures and just kindness. November 3, 2014 at 2:00am
Andy: Just got a chance to view this now–though I could watch a few more times, easily. Watching the animation took me back to childhood, and it makes me wonder how many animated films I watched as a youngster that might have held similar “hidden” philosophical messages. November 3, 2014 at 7:03am
Victoria: It’s fun to revisit old favorites! 🙂 November 3, 2014 at 6:30pm
tora: I finally got a chance to watch this on my lunch break today. Such a peaceful and dreamy film. Sweet and touching. Thank you for this. November 5, 2014 at 1:53pm
Victoria: Thank you for letting me know! Very happy that it made your lunch break even nicer. 🙂 November 6, 2014 at 12:45pm
MontrealGirl: Hi Victoria, Just got a chance to watch this and it was so sweet and filled me with awe. It’s gotten cold here in Montreal and I winter is just around the corner. I had made a resolution to look for the beauty in the winter rather than dreading it and I found this little video to show me exactly how it gets done! It also reminded me of all the wonderful Russian fairytale books we used to get in Africa (!) as we lived in a socialist country and the USSR sent a lot of books there. They stories were fantastical and the drawings were incredible artistic and inspiring for a little girl. I remember especially wanting a beautiful set of red leather boots because of one of the stories. Maybe that is what I will get myself for this winter! 🙂
Thanks for a few perfect, relaxing, happy moments. November 6, 2014 at 6:23pm
Victoria: I like your resolution very much! I also try to do that and it really makes a difference.
Not surprised to hear that the Soviet Union engaged in its own brand of cultural imperialism in Africa. Of course, the fairytales are the most innocuous form of it! And if you google “Bilibin illustrations”, you might discover the same images as you remember from your books. He was a great illustrator, and his work is exceptional. November 10, 2014 at 7:18am
MontrealGirl: Oh my God! Thank you Victoria!!!! Those are the EXACT illustrations I had in my books. They are still as magnificent as I remember them. I am so excited to know the name of the artist! I will have a marvellous weekend revisiting his material. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! 🙂 ….. On a related note, I have a sample of the perfume “Enchanted Forest” by Vagabond and I love the smell and the design of the bottle because it reminded me so much of these fairy tales. November 11, 2014 at 6:56pm
Victoria: Yay! Glad that I could help you find them.
Bilibin inspired many painters too, especially Kandinsky. November 12, 2014 at 10:51am
Karina: How lovely, thank you for sharing this 🙂 November 10, 2014 at 6:30am
Victoria: It’s even better to revisit! Such a wonderful little film. November 10, 2014 at 7:13am