At first it was just a rumble, a crack through time and space as the kingdom endured the destruction of something great and powerful. The loss would cause a great toll on the kingdom, but it was better this way. That’s what she had been told. With that power gone, her kingdom would be safe from evil that wished it harm. No longer having to worry about a selfish soul clasping their hands on the Loruelan Triforce, her home should have been safe. Instead, she was handed chaos. The lines between worlds started to blur. Monsters and darkness spread across the land and turned many to join the side of evil. Her home, her people…they were all in danger of falling and becoming a forgotten realm of the other side. And there was no way that Princess Hilda was going to let that happen.
Since the release of A Link Between Worlds in 2013, Princess Hilda has been a popular subject with many artists. While her appearance is almost identical to that of Princess Zelda, the opposite color tones turn her into something dark and mysterious. Paired with her own story full of emotional turmoil, her character embodies a palette of inspiration for artists to pull from. Icezimy is one such artist who took to the challenge and brought Princess Hilda to life in a simple yet empowering portrait.
Unlike the bright colors and cartoonish style of A Link Between Worlds, Icezimy crafted a realistic portrait of Princess Hilda with a darker and slightly washed-out palette. Her style brought a new life to the Princess of Lorule making her look more elegant and more mature than the princess depicted in the game. The textured brushes used to create the deep purple hair and tarnish the golden jewels give life to Princess Hilda and brand her with the difficult past she has endured. Here is a princess who has survived chaos and destruction and is doing everything she can to stand tall to thread her kingdom back together.
Sorrow is one word that could be used to describe Icezimy’s portrait. Beyond the strength, Princess Hilda looks down with a sadness and a dying hope. But there is a glint in her eye. A hint of something sinister. When Princess Hilda said she would do everything she could to save her kingdom, she meant it. Even if her actions will cause harm to those around her. And yet, the portrait does not speak of evil. Dark it may be, the shadows are not one of a villain, but rather a princess who is blinded by her desperate desires to bring peace back to Lorule, unaware that she’s perpetuating the chaos that led to the kingdom’s ruin in the first place.
Icezimy has brought many Zelda characters to life through her digitally painted portraits. From the heroes that save the day to villains shrouded in darkness and the NPCs that warm our hearts, her style brings new life to the characters many of us love. Her portrait of Princess Hilda is one with hidden emotion behind every brushstroke. The Princess of Lorule is not just a reflection of another world living in opposites. She is a girl with her own story to be told.
