Alberich Steals the Rhinegold and Rushes Off
Holy shit, before fantasy art would become the things I wore on my oversized button up silk shirt, it was only celebrated in horrifying children’s books. Arthur Rackman did dozens of illustrations that ranged from the slightly unsettling to the “I will never grow up stable.” One large project Rackman undertook was numerous illustrations for Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen which saw the primordial roots of high fantasy still encased in German nationalism. In this picture you will see the dwarf Alberich stealing the magical ring from the less than clothed Rhine maidens. If you have never listened to the whole thing take the next 15 hours off and get comfortable.
Categorised in: Art