As opposed to somber abstract art, detailed somber illustrations can arguably be much more dark. If abstract art shifts away from realism and uses color and shape to convey a subject or aid the expression of the artist, then detailed illustrations reflect reality and all facets of it. By creating work that echoes or attempts to render a traumatic political and historical past, the artist may present work that holds up a mirror to the viewer, showing them a subject they may not wish to see. Whether it is the artist’s own experience or a visual retelling of the experience of others, the dull hues of somber illustration reveals the mindset of the artist, relying on blacks, greys and browns to do so. The struggle between chaos and inner peace, the relationships between humans and the allure of darkness evoked through work has inspired the artist throughout time. Delve into Artsper’s selection of somber illustrations including the likes of Orphné Acheron, who takes her name from Greek mythology’s Orphné, the Nymph of the Darkness. This evokes eternity, mythology and immersion into the mysterious depths explored in her work of the fantastic. Vladimir Velickovic’s work, on the other hand, reflects violent memories of his childhood, leading him to now seek to leave a scar on the viewer’s memory of his portraits.
