Words appear and disappear like bubbles. The poetic voice whispered between dream and reality praises an invisible "something" and gently envelops the listener's heart. At the end of this chapter, the stage shifts to fantasy as the poem is recited, and three young people appear as "servants of poetry." Their appearance, the melody they play, and the aesthetics of "not knowing" that are spoken of. Now, the space of the narration is filled with a mysterious light.

Work Description

No. 23 features a dreamlike verse. The repeated phrase "I do not know what I have heard" is striking, and while everything is ambiguous, it is full of rich symbolism. The narrator collects fragmentary images of nature and humanity, such as the shadows of the forest, the murmuring of the waves, the murmuring of a beggar, and the cries of birds, and confesses that they all result in "the same name, the same words." Is it love, mystery, or art itself? The intoxication of "not knowing" forms a poetic unconscious in response to the decoration of Art Nouveau.

In No.24, three young people appear and move on to a scene of reciting poetry. They are like spirits of the seasons, dyed in the colors of autumn leaves and with eyes filled with winter sadness. In their poetry, they talk about the transience of life, the flow of time, and the tranquility of the natural world. Their fingers, as smooth as seals, caress the branches of roses, and their eyes gaze into the distance, at something unseen.

These pages mark the first transition in Ilse of Tripoli, a poetic leap that takes the reader from the narrative into the realm of symbolic poetry. For a reader deeply immersed in the story, this poetic moment may be a moment of quiet slumber or the beginning of a revelation.

This work is included in the lavishly illustrated book "Ilse of Tripoli," published in German in 1901.

• Title : Illustration from "Ilse, Princess of Tripoli"

• Artist : Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939)

• Year of production : 1901

• Technique : Color lithograph (double-sided printing)

• Size : Approx. 30 x 20 cm (paper surface)

*The frame in the image is for reference only. Please contact us regarding framing.

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"Alfons Mucha and 'Ilse, Princess of Tripoli' | The appeal of the story and illustrations"

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This work is an original antique print made over 100 years ago.

All works sold at Rivoli Antiques are genuine works of artistic value that were printed at the time, and are not later reproductions or copies.