Крестьянин

1898–1900

Studies under Repin at Princess Tenisheva's studio

For several years Bilibin studied under Ilya Repin at Princess Maria Tenisheva's school-studio, and in 1900–1904 again under Repin at the Higher Art School of the Academy of Arts.

1899

First commission for the magazine Mir Iskusstva

After the World of Art association was formed, Bilibin's career as an illustrator began with a commission for its magazine Mir Iskusstva; later he also wrote essays on folk art for it and worked for Shipovnik and a Moscow publishing house. He was a member of the society in 1900–1903 and from 1910.

1899–1902

Six fairy-tale books for the State Papers Office

The Department for the Production of State Papers published a series of six fairy tales illustrated by Bilibin, among them Vasilisa the Beautiful, The Frog Princess, The Feather of Finist the Falcon, Maria Morevna and The White Duck. The same publisher then issued Pushkin's tales with his illustrations.

28 April 1902

Marries the artist Maria Chambers

Bilibin married Maria Chambers, his former student and fellow pupil at the Tenisheva studio, a stage designer and book illustrator. They had two sons, Alexander (1903) and Ivan (1908).

1902–1904

Expeditions to the Russian North: wooden architecture

In 1902, 1903 and 1904 the ethnographic department of the Museum of Alexander III sent Bilibin to the Vologda, Olonets and Arkhangelsk Governorates to study wooden architecture. Old Russian art had a great influence on his work.