Bandontwerp voor: N.S. Ljeskow, De onsterfelijke, 1965 before 1965

Karel Thole made this book cover design for N.S. Ljeskow’s 'The Immortal' in 1965 with ink on paper. Look at how the ink swooshes and pools, giving weight to the man’s beard and hair! I bet Thole was thinking about the play of light and shadow. The way the black ink contrasts with the white paper makes the image pop out at you. It’s like Thole was having a conversation with the paper, figuring out just how much ink he needed to bring this guy to life. There’s a raw energy in this image, a kind of boldness that reminds me of some of the expressionist painters. It’s amazing how a few well-placed strokes can tell you so much. It's like he’s saying, "Here's a man, take it or leave it," with confidence. And that, my friend, is the power of a good painting!