The Wooing of Etain is one of the most fascinating Irish medieval legends. It s known to us thanks to old Gaelic compilations like the 12th century” book of the black cow” or the book of Lecan, 1318 . This legend, which is part of the Irish mythological cycle, describes the unconditional love of Midir, lord of Brig Leith’s mound for Étain: the most beautiful woman of Ireland, whose name means “poetry” and who will be changed into a red insect. The story reminds of the universal theme of the reciprocal attraction between the lord of the shadows and a luminous woman, as in the myths of Eros and Psyche, Hades and Persephone, or the tale of Beauty and the Beast.
Inspired by traditional Celtic motifs, and fluid lines of art nouveau, David Balade offers a series of 20 illustrations for this tale, using gouaches, pastels and ink on paper, as well as digital creations incorporating original drawings…
