Sasha Chaitow: “Kaloprosopia 1” (Son of Prometheus Illustration)

From the illustration description in Son of Prometheus:

“The law of kaloprosopia is to manifest the exteriorization of the character one claims for oneself.” (Péladan, L’art idéaliste et mystique).

Péladan advocated and lived by the art of personality he called kaloprosopia (described in Chapter 7): the process of sculpting one’s soul and living as a work of art so as to conscuiously evolve to the best of one’s potential. This method underpinned his initiatory system, and he also saw it as a fundamental form of lived aesthetics. Drawing on his Comment on devient mage, this illustration shows the neophyte holding Orpheus’ lyre and visualizing himself as Orpheus in the mirror before him. The mirror behind him depicts the supreme Ideal, a reintegration and restoration of the Primordial Adam (Adam Kadmon). In the background, decadent Paris floods, but he is focused on the path of light he has chosen. At his feet, Péladan’s books form his guiding path.

Available in 4 highly limited Editions:

1 Original pen and ink freehand illustration in black and white by Sasha Chaitow on Saunders Waterford rough Watercolour paper, 31×41 cm as reprinted in Son of Prometheus: The Life and Work of Joséphin Péladan; Sigilized by the artist.

Only 1 print fully hand-colored in antique, drawing, and calligraphy inks by Sasha Chaitow on smooth watercolour paper, c.30×42 cm. Signed, numbered*, dated by the artist.

Only 1 print dichromatically hand-colored (red + gold) in antique, drawing, and calligraphy inks by Sasha Chaitow on smooth watercolour paper, c.30×42 cm. Signed, numbered*, dated by the artist.

3 black and white prints on smooth watercolour paper, c.30×42 cm. Signed, numbered*, dated by the artist.

* numbered as part of one of seven print sets, i.e. 3/7, 4/7, 5/7 (black and white), 6/7 (diachromatic) or 7/7 (fully colored). Print sets 1 and 2 are privately owned and currently not for sale.