The artwork, titled “The boy who was never afraid,” was created by John Bauer in 1912. It belongs to the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement and falls within the illustration genre. This particular piece is part of the series “Among Gnomes and Trolls.”
The artwork depicts a fantastical scene where a large, troll-like creature, with intricate and dense detailing of fur and jewelry, confronts a small boy. The contrast between the sizes of the two figures is striking. The troll, with its exaggerated features and somewhat whimsical expression, resides in a cave-like setting filled with earth tones and delicate lines that speak to the Art Nouveau style. The boy, standing with an aura of calm and courage, faces the troll with composed demeanor, reinforcing the title’s suggestion of fearlessness. The scene is both enchanting and eerie, capturing the imaginative essence characteristic of Bauer’s illustrative work.
