Beautiful Darkness (Jolies Ténèbres)
Written by Fabien Vehlmann. Art by Kerascoët.
Tiny fairy-tale figures build a society in a setting that grows steadily more disturbing.
Overview
In a woodland world, miniature characters emerge into an apparently charming adventure. Their relationships soon expose vanity, cruelty and indifference beneath the storybook surface. Dupuis dates the original work to 2009.
Why It Matters
The book’s power comes from the friction between its inviting appearance and its bleak social observations. It asks readers to look again at conventions usually treated as innocent.
Genre & Themes
Dark fantasy and psychological horror mingle with social fable. The narrative’s small scale makes every act of exclusion or selfishness feel immediate.
Art & Visual Identity
Kerascoët’s delicate, brightly colored figures sit against an increasingly unsettling environment. The graceful surfaces make the harsher events more jarring.
Read This If You Like
- Dark fairy tales
- Social allegory
- Beautifully unsettling art