Nir Levie - Raziel - Soul Reaver - May 2025 Mystery Sketch

I have a deep list of characters I want for Mystery Sketches; Raziel from the 90s/2000s Soul Reaver video game series was/is near the top of the list. Nir and Tatiana revealed the start of this piece during CAL 2025. Nir went far beyond any expectations. Raziel is a holy warrior who is killed by his future wraith self, resurrected, and turned into a vampire. As a vampire, he is betrayed and turned into a soul sucking wraith. This creates a paradoxical time loop of self-creation and damnation. The lore of the world is so incredible, and Nir taps into it so directly with this piece. The inspiration of Dante & Virgil in Hell is perfection.

Nir's style is so mesmerizing in the truest sense. The patterns are animalistic and predatory like a carnivorous beast. The inspiration and the piece itself have a figure eight shape, which also feeds the underlying lore of Raziel creating himself. I'm not sure if Nir had any knowledge of the game lore, but this piece is a perfect expression on so many levels.

I also love the use of historical works, which is a treat. I now need to get to Paris to see the original in the Musée d'Orsay. It is also incredibly rare to receive a piece and experience so much of the artist's process and ideation.

You can check out all the different aspects of this piece's creation:

Tatiana/Nir Interview/Reveal Stream during CAL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlNuqNN-wtc&t=3209s

Nir's YT Stream 1:
https://www.youtube.com/live/LX-WkK_lzRI?si=nC7qZsQV5vtBP5Ff

Nir's YT Stream 2:
https://www.youtube.com/live/8_pt4Q514bM?si=rnh-hCI7OiHLGNq9

Dante and Virgil in Hell, painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1850):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_and_Virgil#