Compare illustrations of literary and historical subjects

📖 There are many ways to illustrate a person, place, event or story. Artists make choices about the colours, composition (the way something is arranged) and details they show in their images.

📖 When you compare two images depicting the same subject, think about how the artists’ choices highlight different ideas or feelings.

Learn with an example

✈️ Both of these images depict Baba Yaga, a mysterious woman with magical powers from Slavic folklore. Select the image that suggests that the story of Baba Yaga was a cautionary tale to prevent children from wandering in the woods.

An old woman stands outside of a snowy cabin in the woods. She is holding a large pot in her hand and gesturing at someone or something.
An old woman with white hair is flying through a dark forest. She is breaking trees and carrying a heavy wooden pole. She has an angry expression, and her white hair is flying out behind her.
  • Below is the image that suggests that the story of Baba Yaga was a cautionary tale to prevent children from wandering in the woods. You can tell because Baba Yaga has a furious look on her face and she appears to be holding a weapon as she flies through a dark and frightening forest.
An old woman with white hair is flying through a dark forest. She is breaking trees and carrying a heavy wooden pole. She has an angry expression, and her white hair is flying out behind her.
  • The other image shows Baba Yaga standing on the ground and gesturing towards a forest. She does not appear threatening.
An old woman stands outside of a snowy cabin in the woods. She is holding a large pot in her hand and gesturing at someone or something.

✈️ Both of these images depict Tomoe Gozen, a twelfth-century Japanese onna bugeisha, or female samurai. Select the image that emphasises Tomoe Gozen’s physical strength.

A woman is looking to the side. She is wearing a suit of armor and holding a long weapon in her right hand.
A woman is riding a horse on a battlefield. She is wearing a suit of armor, and she is swinging a tree trunk above her head.
  • Below is the image that emphasises Tomoe Gozen’s physical strength. You can tell because she is holding a large tree branch above her head for use as a weapon.
A woman is riding a horse on a battlefield. She is wearing a suit of armor, and she is swinging a tree trunk above her head.
  • The other image also depicts Tomoe Gozen holding a weapon, but it does not seem particularly heavy or difficult to hold.
A woman is looking to the side. She is wearing a suit of armor and holding a long weapon in her right hand.

✈️ Both of these images depict Heidi. In Johanna Spyri’s novel by the same name, Heidi is sent to live in the Swiss Alps with her grouchy grandfather. Select the image that suggests a warm relationship between Heidi and her grandfather.

An older man and a young girl are putting down straw in a barn. They both have neutral expressions on their faces, and they aren’t looking at each other.
An older man and a young girl are hugging each other outside of a house. The older man is sitting down in a chair. They are both smiling.
  • Below is the image that suggests a warm relationship between Heidi and her grandfather. You can tell because Heidi and her grandfather are hugging each other, and they both have smiles on their faces.
An older man and a young girl are hugging each other outside of a house. The older man is sitting down in a chair. They are both smiling.
  • The other image shows Heidi and her grandfather laying down straw in a barn. They both have neutral expressions on their faces, and they do not appear to be interacting with each other.
An older man and a young girl are putting down straw in a barn. They both have neutral expressions on their faces, and they aren’t looking at each other.

Let’s practice!