As a mum, I see a lot of modern children’s books and most of them are… trash. I know people say they’re modern, in vogue, high quality. But all I see are blobs and triangles. Blobs and triangles that look like they took maybe a day to slap together. Contrast that with vintage Slavic book illustrations—from places like Poland, Slovakia, Russia, or Czechia—where renowned painters were often given a whole year to illustrate a single book. Yes, there is no going back to this time for economic reasons, but at least we can still enjoy the works of these vintage Slavic book illustrators with the most iconic style!
Here are 9 vintage Slavic illustrators with the most iconic, unforgettable styles.
🇵🇱 Antoni Boratyński (Poland)
I first discovered Antoni Boratyński while sourcing vintage Polish children’s books for my shop. I assumed his style was a one-off when I saw his dark, moody, yet romantic illustrations in Princess Rodopis.
But no—this is a distinctive signature that appears across many classic Polish children’s books.
Fun fact: Boratyński is an honorary recipient of the prestigious IBBY Award.
🇵🇱 Jan Marcin Szancer (Poland)
If you ask anyone who knows anything about Polish children’s books, they’ll mention Jan Marcin Szancer. His style is unmistakable—frazzled, classsic, and full of motion. He illustrated the greats: Tuwim, Brzechwa, Andersen, and more. Whenever I see a modern Andersen edition, I almost cry. The contrast is painful.
HERE YOU CAN SEE ALL AVAILABLE BOOKS OF JAN SZANCER IN MY ETSY STORE.
Fun fact: Szancer had solo exhibitions in Munich and Berlin and was a close friend of Jan Brzechwa.
🇸🇰 Dušan Kállay (Slovakia)
His „Alice in Wonderland” is the book of my childhood and we thought nothing of it – this is how the world looked around us back then. So when right now I see silly Johny Depp in a hat and other pathetic modern interpretations of Alice, and I hear it is innovative and pretty, I am like,
ARE YOU JOKING?
He is an example of an artist with both style and deep thinking behind each piece.
Fun fact: He won the Grand Prix at the Bienniale of Illustration in Bratislava, among many other international awards.
🇸🇰 Marián Čapka (Slovakia)
Unlike others on this list, Čapka is a mystery. I only found his work by chance in a run-down antique shop—an illustrated book of Ceylonese legends, bought for 50 cents.
But what illustrations! Intricate, textured, and clearly the result of months—if not years—of labor.
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Fun fact: There isn’t one. I know nothing about him beyond his name and birthdate.
🇵🇱 Ewa Salamon (Poland)
While many vintage illustrators have one strong, signature style, Ewa Salamon is more versatile. Some of her work is dreamy and romantic; some, quirky and some groovy and 1960s inspired. You’ll find her illustrations in Doctor Dolittle, W Przepasce Tęczy (see here), The Ugly Duckling, and more.
Fun fact: She studied under none other than Jan Marcin Szancer at art school.
🇧🇾 Tatiana Bieriezienskaja (Belarus)
Due to transliteration issues between Poland, Belarus, Russia and US-speaking world, You will not find anything on her online, unless You have time to search for both Tatiana Bieriezienskaja, Taciana Berezenskaâ, Tac’âna Bieriezienskaja, Bierazieńska Taciana, Berezenskaâ Taccâna, Byeryezyenska, Berezhenska… You get the idea. Her works are very intricate and labour heavy, with many Belarussian folk themes that I adore.
Fun fact: Nothing easily available—but her art speaks for itself.
🇨🇿 Josef Lada (Czechia)
His style is clean and graphic, almost reminiscent of 1950s American illustration—think Fallout logos or old Kool-Aid ads. But Lada wasn’t copying anyone; in fact, he founded the modern style of Czech children’s book illustration.
Fun fact: Pablo Picasso called him the greatest Czech artist of his time. See his work here.
🇵🇱 Maria Orłowska-Gabryś (Poland)
She divided her energies between very imaginative and dreamy illustrations for vintage children’s books, and more formal, yet unique and colorful postcards, posters and other designs that are making every collector sweat till this day. If I could, I would wallpaper her folk clothes illustrations all over my house…
Fun fact: After WWII, she postponed finishing art school for over a decade because she “preferred to paint from the heart.” Oh, Maria… (see her work here or all available books here)
🇵🇱 Bożena Truchanowska (Poland)
Bold in chosen techniques, colour schemes, concepts, Bożena Truchanowska is less-known, yet very productive and creative artist that I’ve grown to love while browsing through hundreds of different vintage Polish books for my shop. Here You can find her works for sale.
Fun fact about Bożena Truchanowska: Jan Szancer was a family friend who pushed her into the direction of art:)
🇵🇱 Zbigniew Rychlicki (Poland)
Known from classic legends, Miś Uszatek fairytales, posters, Zbigniew Rychlicki was a versatile artist that could paint grim, dark scenes as well as the adventures of a little bear (both You can find here)
Fun fact about Zbigniew Rychlicki: He started art school at war and used his skills to forge documents.
🇷🇺 Ivan Bilibin (Russia)
He is not the only notable vintage Russian author renowned for children books, but to be honest Russia is a cosmos of it’s own and I am no expert, so for now I will just drop here the most notable of them all and come back to this when I will have more info.
As a male friend told me: girls always send me these illustrations and I don’t know why?
Hehe. It is because of certain spiritual quality to these oldschool, colorful illustrations that are so deeply rooted in Russian folklore.
And what about You? What is Your favourite vintage slavic illustrator and why?
