The Latvian Picaresque Novel: Illustrations and Artistic Layout in Print

• In Event: Illustrating Baltic Experience: Hybrid Texts and Contexts

Abstract

The picaresque novel has its roots in Spain, where it was represented by only a few literary works. However, with the passage of time, it spread to Germany, the United Kingdom, France and other countries, and became a literary model that later appeared in Latvian literature, starting with the Brothers Kaudzītis novel "Land-Surveyors" (1879) and continuing up to Vilis Lācītis' "Construction With a London View," among others. The picaresque novel as a genre developed rapidly in 1920s–1930s literature. Several novels that appeared at that time were republished; each time the visual layout took different shapes.
How did the external layout designs of the books go together with the text? What transformations did the design of picaresque novels go through since the late 19th century? What were the visual interpretations of the same texts at different times? What message did the design of a text bear? Did illustrations protect the texts or alter their meaning? Layout design, undoubtedly, is a medium of its time, and this paper embraces it as one of the key topics covered.

Short Bio

Elīna Skujiņa obtained her doctoral degree in Latvian literature history from the University of Latvia in 2013. Her thesis was on “Picaresque novel and its elements in Latvian novels”. She contributed to several research projects in the field of literature science at the University of Latvia and regularily participated in international scientific conferences in Latvia, Germany, Russia, Spain, Sweden and other countries. Since 2017, she serves as a board member at the “Independent Research Institute”, an NGO established with the aim of joining the forces of researchers in humanities and social sciences towards integrated research of cultural phenomena. Her efforts are directed towards supporting both national and contemporary research development in Latvia by providing a platform for young researchers for sounding innovative findings and meeting well-established professionals. She interned at the University of Tartu (2012), Heidelberg University (2010) and University of Greifswald (2005, 2007–2008). Currently, E. Skujiņa studies art history and theory at the Latvian Academy of Art.

Author

• Elīna Skujiņa, Art Academy of Latvia