Surreal Engraving-Style Illustrations by Alvian IR

Indonesian illustrator Alvian IR, aka Ilvstrasi, creates dense, meticulously detailed illustrations that splice classical engraving traditions with surrealist provocation.

His technique is unmistakable, with tight cross-hatching, woodcut-style linework and ornate Art Nouveau borders. Within that structure, though, he warps reality. Eyeballs bloom from rose stems. Human heads serve as bicycle wheels, rolling under a headless suited figure who pedals on, indifferent.

These aren’t simply strange images, they’re carefully constructed collisions between the venerable and the visceral, using the visual language of Old Masters to introduce something a bit more unsettling. His tonal control keeps everything in check, with muted palettes that stop the grotesque from tipping into chaos.

For more from Alvian IR, explore his work on Instagram and Behance.

More illustrations via Instagram