Illustration Notes for Episode Twenty-One

This week’s illustration was a fun and satisfying project. As you have likely figured out by now, I like my images to convey some ‘narrative meaning’ to illuminate the scene. I like it even better when that meaning requires some ‘puzzling out’ for the viewer. This image is full of metaphors and ‘puzzles.’

The primary metaphor here is Anselm’s face (identity) present but literally hidden behind the ‘event’ represented by the newspaper. And, of course, there’s the pleasantly elegant meal left half uneaten in the safe, lavish room, replete with orchids in winter—all so discordant with the suffering, climatic severity and hardship Anselm has unleashed on so many others in the city just beyond his sanctuary.

Then there are the puzzles. Why—if he wanted to know what the city’s residents were saying about the flood—did he send his valet out to find anything so anachronistic as a newspaper to do it? Why not just open a browser in the quick convenient privacy of his breakfast room, and see all the news he could want? And what about the pleasant, green, leafy view outside his windows? Even if such verdure were appropriate to the season and the weather outside, there is the fact that—as those who’ve paid close attention may recall—Anselm’s home is just off an urban alleyway in the city’s center. There’s an awful lot of greenery—and distance—out there for a penthouse garden. So what’s with that view? And while we’re at it, what’s with the arcane clothing—and language for that matter—that we’ve observed among The Lady and her people, here and in previous episodes in such a large city full of modern traffic and smart phones?

Answers to these questions, and many others, are on their way. But I had fun trotting them all out here now—just a bit ahead of time—for your titillation. :]

As always, you’ll find an uncropped version of the image below to peruse while you ponder possible explanations. Enjoy. :]