Vladislav Pantelkin (aka Panalevich)www.instagram.comWhat you least expect to see are illustrations for The Master and Margarita in the style of Palekh miniatures. But art exists to push the boundaries of imagination, so here are the illustrations by Vladislav Pantelkin (also known under the pseudonym Panalevich), created in the manner of Palekh artists (or perhaps Mstera or even Kholui—essentially, traditional folk crafts following the traditions of Slavic icon painting). In short, either tradition or postmodernism. Let’s call it metamodernism—after all, no one really knows for sure what that term actually means.
Woland is conversing with the literary men by the cozy little Patriarch’s Pond with ducklings. Ivan Homeless, judging by the look on his face, is beginning to suspect something.
Perhaps this is the best depiction of Berlioz’s death in all of world art.
Ivan Homeless narrates a heartrending story about the treacherous consultant. The listeners (including the policeman) are seized with panic, and a quail flies off the waiter’s tray in terror.
Ivan is given a sedative injection.
The naughty apartment. The refined-looking Azazello politely lifts his bowler as he steps out of the mirror, while Behemoth the Cat blows Stepa Likhodeev off to Yalta.
The Variety administration is baffled by the telegrams they receive.
A naked damsel frightens Varenukha.
And now—a disco! The decapitated master of ceremonies breaks into a squat dance.
The Master appears to Ivan Homeless.
Changing the tone to lyrical: the meeting of the Master and Margarita.
The Master’s basement. Outside, the rain pours; inside, the hearth burns cozily.
Home is no longer so cozy, and the flame in the hearth has taken on something ominous.
Meanwhile, vampires surround the finance director Rimskiy. But luckily, the rooster is already crowing on the roof.
An empty suit sows panic in a Soviet institution, around which trucks with singing clerks dance in a round.
Unlucky visitors flee the naughty apartment (they really should have paid attention to the inverted pentagram around the door).
Azazello presents Margarita with the magic cream in the Kremlin Garden. The Federal Protective Service watches them from the bushes.
Natasha finds Margarita in the form of a witch.
Margarita and Natasha fly to the ball.
Margarita bathes in the river before the ball. A certain goat-legged gentleman, modestly having procured a fig leaf of impressive size, offers her refreshing beverages.
Woland’s retinue greets the mistress of the ball, and only Behemoth is intently analyzing a chess position.
The Great Ball at Satan’s.
Woland in his true guise.
After the ball. Woland makes polite conversation with Margarita, Azazello savors wine, Gella fights with Behemoth, and from behind the curtain Frida unobtrusively displays her handkerchief.
The Master steps out of a floral portal. Azazello and Koroviev play the welcoming delegation, and Behemoth has already prepared the restored novel.
Fagott and Behemoth unleash the element of fire from the primus stove.
Icon-like Matthew Levi appears before Woland. Both have halos above their heads—but there is a nuance.
Having poisoned the Master and Margarita, Azazello finishes the wine (waste not!).
It is time to depart.
Farewell to Moscow on Vorobyovy Hills.
