Publisher: Molodaia Gvardiia (Young Guard)
Author: Vladychina, Galina
Artist: Zemenkov, B. S.
Materials:
Colors: Black, Blue, Green, Orange
Subjects:
- 1The hot air balloon takes up nearly a third of the page’s space. The deep yellow color of the balloon, in contrast to the muted greens and blues of the other illustrated forms, serves to reinforce the singular focus on the balloon even more. The shape of the balloon conjures up both the image of a sun, and the image of a lightbulb. The size of the balloon approximates the large size of the sun. Especially in the context of the theme of science, the sun is a reminder of revolutions (the Copernican Revolution in particular.) The hot air balloon’s similarity to a light bulb’s silhouette also supports the balloon’s symbol as a marker of revolution and progress.
- 2In comparison to the hot air balloon, the windmill is miniscule. It is nearly 1/20 the size of the balloon. The juxtaposition of the windmill against the hot air balloon serves to reinforce the notion of scientific progress. Windmills were the primary source of energy for pre-industrial and early industrial communities. The windmill’s small size suggests its obsolescence in the face of the hot air balloon.
- 3Similar to the windmill, the horse-drawn carriage is considerably smaller to the hot air balloon. It is located in the periphery of the page. The outline of the carriage and horse appear childlike and simple, especially in contrast to the meticulous detail noticeable in the hot air balloon’s netting and basket. The childlike simplicity also implies the obsolescence of former technologies and modes of transportation. The balloon visually pushes the horse-drawn carriage to the edge of the page, demonstrating its precarious relevance. The cartoonish rendition of the horse-drawn carriage also serves to suggest the linearity of progress from pre-industrial to industrial society.
- 4The coal at the bottom right of the page is considerably larger than the horse drawn carriage and the windmill. In fact, considering the scale of the hot air balloon, the mounds of coal are actually larger in scale compared to the hot air balloon. Clearly, this serves to emphasize the importance of coal. It is the new fuel for the industrial age. To underscore the importance of its role, the coal is even superimposed with text that reads, “coal,” so that it becomes both text and image. The superimposed text demands attention in a way that other images do not.
- 5The smoke emanating from the pot in the hot air balloon is also quite large, compared to the other images on the page. The smoke is reminiscent of the type of smoke often emanating from steam engine trains. The steam here also implies movement, progress, and industry.
- 6The small wisp of smoke emanating from Montgolfier’s pipe appears to signal that Montgolfier himself contains within him that spark of industrial progress. He carries a fire around with him. Reminiscent of the Promethean myth of the titan who brought fire from the gods to humans, Montgolfier’s pipe seems to suggest that he brings to humans, transcendence from earthbound existence through airborne technology.
- 7In Montgolfier’s other hand, he holds a coal scooper, a tool he uses to tend the fire. This also reinforces Montgolfier’s symbolic role as the tender of fire and bringer of heavenly technology.
- 8The font in the paragraph at the top of the page differs from the font in the second paragraph right underneath it. Recall that the first paragraph reads: Everything now became clear to him. For years he thought it in vain, By using the skirt as an example, He sewed a big balloon from silk. And the second paragraph reads: Here is the basket: in it, the brazier Quickly blows up the balloon With warm air. Montgolfier tends the fire. The first paragraph’s font appears to have been printed from a printing press. The letters are standardized and appear like the font one would find in texts like newspapers. The second paragraph’s font appears handwritten and whimsical. This change in font is a motif throughout the book.
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