Poetics of illustration. On the meaning of pictures in the works by C. S. Lewis

Abstract

The article reflects on subject of illustration based on both: experience and writings of C. S. Lewis. A closer look at the author’s developing relations to image (considering his childhood, adolescence and maturity) leads directly to history of co-operations with Pauline Baynes – creator of illustrations in first edition of The Chronicles of Narnia. The story which opens the cycle The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe was chosen to be the base of the article creation and is of most importance considering the analysis of text and image relations. The analyzing process, therefore, is derived from Marek Oziewicz’s postulate of equality in treating story and image itself, understood as “story told by pictures”. The structural analysis gives us the knowledge of fictional creations, gathered here as image poetics. This way of thinking provides a further perspective on illustration as an important factor of meaning and creativity.