Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin, Russian, 1876 to 1942, watercolor painting on paper depicting a Crimean mountain landscape, 1933. Signed with initials and dated, lower right. Framed. Ivan Bilibin is known for Book illustrations design, illustrations to The Tale of Igors Campaign. He was an illustrator and stage designer who took part in the Mir Iskusstva, contributed to the Ballets Russes, co founded the Union of Russian Artists. Ivan Bilibin was a Russian artist, born in St. Petersburg, somewhat isolated from the associations with traditional Russian art found so strongly among the art community in Moscow. His first inspirations came from Russian folk and fairy tales. After seeing an exhibition by Victor Vasnetsov in 1899, which included images and scenes from folk lore and opera, he was drawn to the remoteness of the wildernesses of Old Russia that gave rise to the legends. Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin from September 1917 to December 1919 lived in the Crimea, in Batiliman. The artist was a passionate admirer of the marvelous southern coastal nature of the Crimea. One of a kind artwork.