I created this rebinding of Olhai os LĂrios do Campo (Look at the Lilies of the Field), a novel by Brazilian author Ărico VerĂssimo.
The embroidery is my way of expressing the protagonistâs inner struggle: choosing between an honest, authentic life, even if a simple one, and a life of luxury and social status built around appearances.
The novelâs title is inspired by Matthew 6:28â34, in which Jesus points to the lilies of the field and the birds of the sky as reminders not to be consumed by worry over material needs. I incorporated these elements into the design: a field of lilies and a single bird in the sky. I chose soft, muted gray tones and natural, unbleached cotton to give the composition a melancholic, understated feel.
Over this first composition, I added a frame covered in glossy navy-blue fabric. A layer of sheer fabric sits on top, embroidered with an ornate vase holding a single withered lily. While the lilies in the field are flourishing, this lone, withered flower represents EugĂȘnio himself: as he pursues wealth and social advancement, he becomes increasingly disconnected from himself, ultimately finding neither the happiness nor the fulfillment he expected.
The sheer fabric acts as a veil between who EugĂȘnio could have been and who he has become. The truth is right in front of him, yet somehow remains beyond his grasp. Will he be able to lift the veil by the end of the story?
I also made a clamshell box to house and protect the book. The lid features a sculpted relief of the façade of the Solar dos CĂąmara, a landmark associated with Porto Alegreâs upper class during the era in which the novel takes place. It represents the world EugĂȘnio longs to enter, a world he gains access to through his marriage to Eunice.
I wanted the cover to feel delicate and poetic, while the box has a more restrained, classical aesthetic.
I had my doubts all the way through whether this would work out, but in the end, it all paid off. I'd love to hear your thoughts!