It can never be said that Princess Zelda doesn’t lead an interesting life. Across all her incarnations, she has been captured and imprisoned countless times, orchestrated rebellions, haunted a hero, conducted intensive research into ancient ruins, and single-handedly held back the apocalypse. With so many adventurous experiences, the girl needs a day off!
One of my favorite versions of the character is the one that we see in Skyward Sword. This Zelda is not a princess, just the daughter of the headmaster of the Skyloft Knight Academy, but she is just as fierce as her royal descendents. She fights against bullies, avoids capture by a demon lord, and learns that she literally has the blood of the oddess Hylia running through her veins. With a busy schedule like that, artist Yagaminoue’s work entitled “Skyloft” provides a moment of rest before the goddess reborn must fulfill her destiny.
When looking at the art, the left side of the piece is filled with the familiar sights of Skyloft. Shrouded in the mist, viewers can see the windmill with its rotating blades. To the left of that, we see the water cascading from the floating island above. Even further left is the bustling bazaar, and behind, hidden in the mists, is the island’s giant Goddess Statue. The way that the statue is the monument most hidden by the clouds ties into Zelda herself. Just as its outline is kind of hazy, Zelda has yet to realize her connection to the goddess.
Sitting on the edge of Skyloft is Zelda. She is playing the Goddess Harp which likely means she has yet to fall to the surface below. Her eyes are straight ahead, and she doesn’t appear to be smiling. At this moment, what exactly is she thinking about? She could be singing a familiar ballad as she imagines what’s below the cloud barrier. Perhaps she can feel a power within and is wrestling with those feelings as her feet dangle in the air.
Following Zelda’s gaze leads us to the right half of the painting which is dominated by clouds and the land below. Much of the lighter colors in this piece of art come from the clouds in the lower right which is interesting. Oftentimes, we associate brighter colors with happier, more joyful things. It seems odd then that the surface would be covered by the brighter clouds while the peaceful Skyloft is a little darker in hue. It could be that the light white color foreshadows the events of the game. Despite the hardships both Link and Zelda will face, their adventure below the clouds does eventually lead to the sealing of Demise. Yet, something about the clouds hints at something sinister.
Looking closely, we can see the brownish-red colors of the land beneath the clouds. That particular shade calls to mind the fires of Eldin, but it also potentially hints at Demise’s demonic presence beneath the clouds. Even though Link and Zelda do defeat Demise in the end, there is a price. Demise leaves a curse upon their blood. Blood that is somewhat similar to the color of the land below the clouds in this painting. The reddish-brown color of the land hints at the cost of victory.
Yagaminoue’s art weaves a complex tale through its use of light, color, and the familiar sights of Skyloft. It tells the tale of a girl who yearned for adventure and found it beneath the clouds. She became a legend but learned that sometimes there is a price that comes with that. Despite the cost, it’s hard to imagine Zelda regretting what happens. While Link is most closely associated with courage, Zelda undeniably has it as well. Perhaps that is what the viewer of this art sees in her unflinching gaze: the resolve born from courage.
