American Illustration 32 Winners

Bloody Chamber

"Bloody Chamber" created for Angela Carter’s collection of short stories "The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories". Is based on the famous tale of Bluebeard. Carter's version is set in the 1920's and relates the story of a young piano student from a poor family who marries an wealthy older businessman. They travel to his castle where the young bride has many horrific experiences. The succession of mirrors in the illustration portrays the dramatic events from the bride's point of view and invites the reader into a dark psychological and physical space. The illustration captures the surreal qualities of the story as opposed to picturing that which is described in great detail through language.

The Erl-King

"The Erl-King" is created for Angela Carter’s collection of short stories "The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories". This story is one of the few in the collection not based on an existing fairy tale. "The Erl-King" is the most poetic piece in the book and is lighter in tone. Angela Carter creates a dreamy account of a young woman that enters a forest and is charmed by the mysterious environment and Erl-King himself, only to find she is trapped. The illustration uses metaphor to capture the mental state of the character, depicting Siren's trapped in cages in the master's kitchen.