Dersu Uzala
Personal project for practice: a portrait inspired by the film Dersu Uzala and the book by Vladimir Arsenyev. It tells a fascinating story, and the illustration is based on the real Dersu.
Final illustration.
Dersu Uzala was a Nanai hunter and trapper who lived in the Okhotsk–Manchurian taiga in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known for serving as a guide for Russian explorer Vladimir Arsenyev on his expeditions in the Russian Far East. Arsenyev immortalised Dersu in his 1923 memoir, Dersu Uzala, which was later adapted into two films, including the more widely known 1975 version directed by Akira Kurosawa.
Sketch.
Dersu's wisdom and knowledge of the wilderness were invaluable to Arsenyev and his team, and he is portrayed as a man with a deep respect for nature and an understanding of his environment. He saved Arsenyev's life on multiple occasions, and their relationship grew into a profound friendship despite their different backgrounds. As he aged, his eyesight began to fail, making it difficult for him to survive in the wilderness, so Arsenyev offered him a home in the city. However, Dersu found it difficult to adapt to city life and eventually chose to return to the woods.
I recommend reading the story or watching Akira Kurosawa's magnificent film!