Cover illustration by Anke Eissmann - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bêthberry · 02-07-2010, 06:55 PM

What's fascinating as well about the cover illustration is how it symbolises the relationship between Daeron and Luthien.

Daeron occupies the foreground of the left side of the illustration and he faces forward toward the reader/spectator, with his back towards Luthien. He is not looking directly at her at all. His eyes are, however, wide open. Luthien, on the other hand, occupies the background of the right side of the composition. Her eyes are closed and she faces away from the direction of the music, away from Daeron and toward the right frame of the illustration. Daeron is slightly obscured by a few large leaves and branches whereas Luthien is framed by small leaves, walking in mid-thigh grass.

As with all of Anke Eissmann's illustrations for Tolkien, this one is very rich, clearly placed significantly within the story, yet highly original.

It is quite wonderful that she created a new illustration for the book.

02-07-2010, 06:55 PM	#3
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	What's fascinating as well about the cover illustration is how it symbolises the relationship between Daeron and Luthien. Daeron occupies the foreground of the left side of the illustration and he faces forward toward the reader/spectator, with his back towards Luthien. He is not looking directly at her at all. His eyes are, however, wide open. Luthien, on the other hand, occupies the background of the right side of the composition. Her eyes are closed and she faces away from the direction of the music, away from Daeron and toward the right frame of the illustration. Daeron is slightly obscured by a few large leaves and branches whereas Luthien is framed by small leaves, walking in mid-thigh grass. As with all of Anke Eissmann's illustrations for Tolkien, this one is very rich, clearly placed significantly within the story, yet highly original. It is quite wonderful that she created a new illustration for the book. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.