Usul

Preliminary drawing for the cover of Dune: Messiah by Frank Herbert from The Folio Society depicting Paul Atreides as the “Fool Saint,” pointing the way to the future even as he stands on a crumbling pedestal. The concept references Paul’s alternative names:

• Muad’Dib, or “The One Who Points the Way,” which is the Fremen name Paul takes for himself
• Usul, or “the strength at the base of the pillar,” which is the name Stilgar bestows upon him

In addition, I was inspired by this Tleilaxu Epigram:

“Here lies a toppled god—
His fall was not a small one.
We did but build his pedestal,
A narrow and a tall one.”

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Drawing Size: ~ 5” x 7.5”
Medium: graphite, charcoal, spray fixative on paper