Barry Windsor-Smith - Icarus (Early pencil version)
Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith (Penciller)
22 Comments - 878 Views - 8 Likes
Additional Images:
Icarus (Early pencil version - Full Picture)
Icarus (Later pencil version)
Icarus (Ink and Paint Figure)
Icarus (Finished Piece)
Artwork Details
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DescriptionI feel I may just get emotional about it... But how can it be otherwise? This is as grandiose a piece as it can get, not mentioning its massive size (30"x26") or the long patient months to complete the deal or the hectic weeks to see it finally arrive safe at home.But, here it is, a first penciled version of Icarus, one of the most famous illustrations by Barry Windsor-Smith... And big thanks are in order to Mel Higgins for the ultra-smooth deal! It will take me long to grasp the entire wonderment of this work, but, this is what I get from the first looks at it. Obviously attracted to the left side first, as it more fully achieved than the right one (Note : this is the side you see on the picture). The interconnection between Icarus and the foliage is stupendous. The way the half-immersed figure is rendered in pencil only is also incredible. The face of Icarus is certainly the best BWS face I’ve ever seen. It is classical to the extreme. Shades of Michelangelo, I think. Having said that, even if it is only broadly sketched, the right side (eee additional picture) is also very interesting: the birds investigating the corpse and even the hills in the distance give the idea that the first intention of BWS was to build a far more open landscape instead of the dense forest of the finished piece where even the water is encumbered by reflections of the trees. Now, I have not yet found any additional information on how Icarus evolved in the mind of the artist, but an observation from my keen-eyed wife struck me. When I (proudly!) showed her the piece, she told me, judging from the posture and the expression on his face, that he looked more like sleeping than having plunged from the skies to his death. I think she is correct, even though the artist may have originally wanted to play on this ambiguity, which makes me think of Arthur Rimbaud’s poem « the sleeper in the valley », where a young man, supposedly peacefully asleep on the grass, is actually a dead soldier (« there are two red holes in his right side »). So, as of now, I think this is the very first attempt BWS did on this piece. When compared to the other known example (You can find it on CAF, but I also added a picture here), there are elements unique to this one: the birds, the hills and, especially, the half-opened eyes that clearly reinforce the impression of dozing. Apparently, when he decided to give up on this one and go for a second take, BWS went for a simplified version with a landscape more closely focused. The eyes are now almost closed and darkened. Then he must have realized the pose of Icarus was too « quiet », so he worked on a black ink and white paint isolated figure with a more grotesque pose (also added here), definitely more in line with the idea of the fall. The final touch came when, for the finished piece (additional picture enclosed), he decided to switch from a landscape to a portrait disposition that reinforce the notion of the fall. The cluttering sultry trees and the absolutely still water are the exact opposite of the wide open skies Icarus loved so well… Obviously, this is guesswork on my part, so, if you know more or have other ideas, feel free to contribute! As for me, I'm going back to this splendid, almost hypnotic composition, a spellbinding pencil work by BWS on top of his art. I even think I'm prefering this one over the familiar painted version. But, I'm biased, obviously... Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013
1 - Posted on 4/2/2022
Rick W wrote:
A crown jewel in any collection. Breathtaking!
Thanks Rick! This is a grail of sorts...
Davide G.
Member Since 2009
Posted on 4/2/2022
How not to comment on this beauty? Congrats and thanks for sharing such an amazing piece!
Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013
Posted on 4/2/2022
Davide G. wrote:
How not to comment on this beauty? Congrats and thanks for sharing such an amazing piece!
Thanks Davide! Sometimes it feels like big is beautiful...
Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013
Posted on 4/2/2022
Mark Levy wrote:
Fabulous piece - fascinated even by the small fish!
Thanks Mark! That's a detail I had not picked yet, and, obviously you're right!...
Marcus Wai 
Member Since 2005
Posted on 4/2/2022
The full picture is a lyrical song of the myth that is tragedy and parable. Line by exquisite line, Windsor-Smith uses this story to express ideals and emotions that are personal to him.
Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013
1 - Posted on 4/3/2022
Marcus Wai wrote:
The full picture is a lyrical song of the myth that is tragedy and parable. Line by exquisite line, Windsor-Smith uses this story to express ideals and emotions that are personal to him.
Thanks Marcus! The myth of Icarus is indeed one of the most powerful ever. Everybody can relate to it... Barry Windsor-Smith, well versed in classical and romantic tradition, knows how to build symbols into his work, refining them to satisfaction.
Fredo Le
Member Since 2006
Posted on 4/3/2022
A great prelim of the master piece. And I like the analyse.
Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013
Posted on 4/3/2022
Fredo Le wrote:
A great prelim of the master piece. And I like the analyse.
Thanks Fredo for your appreciation of both!
Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013
Posted on 4/12/2022
Kirk Dilbeck (3-Wishes and Patron-of-art) wrote:
Tragically lovely!
Thanks Kirk! It takes a BWS to bring serenity to such a face...
Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013
Posted on 4/12/2022
Fabio C. wrote:
WHOA
Thanks Fabio! My feeling, exactly...
Bill J
Member Since 2009
Posted on 4/19/2022
Phenomenal! What a treasure this is--About as perfect a BWS drawing as you could imagine. Sincerest congratulations!
Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013
Posted on 4/19/2022
Bill J wrote:
Phenomenal! What a treasure this is--About as perfect a BWS drawing as you could imagine. Sincerest congratulations!
Thanks Bill! I admit this is a kind of grail to me!
Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013
Posted on 6/12/2022
Red Raven wrote:
Du grand classique par le maître !!!
Merci Adom ! Il m'a fallu de la patience pour celui-là...
Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013
Posted on 6/18/2022
Nils E wrote:
This feels a lot more personal than final.
Thanks Nils! You're right, this is BWS gone loose on the page... A burgeoning masterpiece!
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