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Illustration for a double-page spread for Icon Magazine Italia column by Cristina Di Canio about Simone Tempia’s novel "Gran Galà Con Delitto".
The artwork captures the quiet tension and underlying duplicity of a high-society gathering. By dropping the perspective entirely beneath the table, I aimed to strip away the surface facade of elegance and reveal what is silently concealed from view.
In keeping with my approach to narrative illustration, the focus is on a cinematic, linear composition and symbolic staging. Beneath a crisp white tablecloth, six characters, ranging from writers and aristocrats to rebels and the bourgeoisie, are caught in mid-action: exchanging clandestine notes, concealing a blade inside a boot, or harboring private vices. This is not merely a scene of social etiquette; it is a visual exploration of human secrecy, proving that even in the most refined circles, everyone has something to hide.
(Note for film buffs: The oriental rug beneath the table features a subtle tribute of the iconic rug from The Big Lebowski, because after all, it really tied the room together).
I developed two narrative concepts to translate the novel into visual storytelling:
A low-angle, panoramic view beneath the dinner table, framed by the tablecloth. It exposes the guests' legs alongside hidden clues—such as secret hand-passed notes and weapons tucked into boots—revealing that beneath society's elegant facade, everyone has something to hide.
A conceptual, wide-format layout featuring a 1960s typewriter. A long sheet of paper rolls across the page, displaying the silhouettes of the guests as a detective's notebook: the countess's figure is stained with blood, while eliminated suspects are crossed out.
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