A woman in shimmering white glides across a field of ice, flanked by two immense polar bears, her pale hands cupping a secret flame against the deep blue of the arctic night. The eye is drawn first to her luminous veil, which catches the starlight and turns her into a figure both spectral and regal. The bears, rendered with the same delicate care as her gown, serve not as threats but as guardians, their heavy forms anchoring her ethereal presence to the frozen ground.

The stars above are scattered with deliberate density, echoing the sense of wonder and otherworldliness at the heart of the scene. Dulac’s palette of icy blues and soft whites creates both chill and enchantment, while the woman’s direct gaze invites the viewer to wonder at her purpose and her power. Created in 1915 for The dreamer of dreams by The Queen of Roumania, this illustration belongs to a world where fairy tales were not just for children but for adults seeking escape and meaning in uncertain times. The early twentieth century saw a flourishing of illustrated books, with artists like Edmund Dulac transforming stories into visual treasures for collectors and dreamers alike.

Little is recorded about this specific painting beyond its appearance in a Harvard collection, but its style—rich in detail, shimmering with fantasy—places it firmly within the golden age of book illustration. Dulac’s work, often commissioned for deluxe editions, was prized for its ability to conjure whole worlds from a single page. The image lingers, asking the viewer to step into the snow and follow the stars.