Polina

Written and drawn by Bastien Vivès, Polina is a single-volume graphic novel from French publisher Casterman that traces a young dancer’s rigorous training and artistic evolution. Originally released in 2011, the story follows its title character from childhood through the demanding world of classical ballet, examining the tension between discipline and personal expression. Vivès’s clean, expressive linework and muted palette make this a quietly intimate character study, notable for its precise, unsentimental approach to the creative process.