However, he did leave behind detailed descriptions of Gollum in his writings. He described his appearance, his voice, his mannerisms, and even his emotions. This level of detail was more than enough for illustrators to interpret and bring Gollum to life in their own artistic visions.
Many talented artists have created their own interpretations of Gollum over the years, inspired by Tolkien's vivid descriptions. So, while Tolkien himself didn't leave any visual depictions, we have a rich collection of artistic interpretations to enjoy thanks to his detailed writing.