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

This is Karel Thole’s design for a book cover in 1965, probably made with graphite and paper. I can imagine him bent over a table, hatching those grey lines, building tone with a steady hand. A figure emerges in the landscape, maybe a portrait of the immortal. The cover is like a stage set, sparse and suggestive, just enough to conjure the scene. I wonder, was Thole listening to music? Did he pause to look out the window, thinking about life and death, like all artists do? I love how the grey tones create such a brooding atmosphere. It reminds me of some drawings by Van Gogh, but with a touch of surrealism, maybe like Kay Sage. These lines, almost scribbled, speak of impermanence. It's like he's saying, "This is just one way of seeing it," and then letting us fill in the gaps. I’m inspired by his way of thinking. He keeps me going, all these artists who came before.