Marking The North - The Greek Tradition and Its Influence in the Roman Period is a publication for the academic series Papers and Monogrpahs of The Finnish Institute at Athens (PMFIA). The commissioner of the illustration wanted the image to bring together an impactful selection of motifs, topoi and elements that are commonly used about Northern peoples in ancient literature: strong women, tattoos, forests, vi*lence and dec*pitation (the two latter points in a historical context, of course). 

The inspiration for the female characters came from ancient Greek vase decoration depicting the Thracian worshippers of Dionysus, called the Maenads (’maddened ones’).

Collage from paper cutouts, wood panel printed textures, and rubber stamping.