Bob Staake illustrates a brick wall for The New Yorker’s election reaction issue

Date
14 November 2016
Above

Bob Staake: The New Yorker

Illustrator Bob Staake has illustrated The New Yorker’s election reaction issue cover. The Wall features a bravely pared back image of a brick wall, mid build – not only representative of one of the most controversial statements of Trump’s campaign, but the magazine’s steadfastly negative yet defiant reaction to the result.

“When we first received the results of the election, we felt as though we had hit a brick wall, full force,” says Françoise Mouly, art editor at The New Yorker. She quotes an article by David Remnick, who states: “To combat authoritarianism, to call out lies, to struggle honorably and fiercely in the name of American ideals – that is what is left to do. That is all there is to do.”

“And so we must go on – with words and images such as this cover by Bob Staake for next week’s issue,” Françoise concludes.

Commissioning Bob Staake, a prominent children’s book illustrator, for the cover has made for a starkly memorable visual symbol, in high contrast to many depictions of the president elect chosen across the media.

The Wall cover issue is out 21 November.

Share Article

About the Author

Jenny Brewer

Jenny oversees our editorial output across work, news and features. She was previously It’s Nice That's news editor. Get in touch with any big creative stories, tips, pitches, news and opinions, or questions about all things editorial.

It's Nice That Newsletters

Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox? Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world.