Domestika – The Old Man & the Sea by Ernest Hemingway 2021

Owen Gent's illustration for Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" uses dusky reds, turquoises, and ochre. It’s like a half-remembered dream, or maybe a fading memory of a sunset at sea. I wonder what Gent was thinking about while creating this work? He was probably trying to convey the emotions in the book. The textures in the painting feel grainy, like sand, giving it a tactile quality. The solitary figure standing at the edge, almost glowing against the dark land, captures the spirit of Hemingway's protagonist and his lonely struggle. The silhouette of the sailboat is far away, and also a bit ominous. Gent's art reminds me of illustrators like Edward Gorey, with its quiet, evocative simplicity. Artists are in constant conversation, aren’t they? Each adding their own layer to a visual story that keeps evolving. It's not about perfect representation, but about a feeling, a vibe. The Old Man and the Sea is about something that’s more felt than seen.