Hansel & Gretel
- Book cover design -
Non-commissioned
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Graphic design
Typography
Lettering
Personal Interpretation of a Book Cover for the Brother Grimm’s tale Hansel and Gretel.
For this personal interpretation of Hansel and Gretel, I envisioned a house with a bitten shape, symbolizing both the literal and metaphorical sense of being devoured, and of course the witch’s candy/gingerbread home!
The house is surrounded by shadowy elements and faint background text (picked from the famous witch’s lines), creating a trapped, eerie atmosphere. This feeling extends to the title, which feels enclosed within the house, directly reflecting the story's themes.
After experimenting with different treatments, I settled on a textured 2D look that I particularly love. The handwritten title complements the tale’s folkloric roots, while the dark greenish-black tones, paired with the glowing, almost ethereal house silhouette, evoke a sense of mystery. This contrast draws the viewer’s eye toward the center, emphasizing the title as the focal point.
Design choices breakdown
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A house with a bitten shape, symbolising both the witch’s ginger house and the literal and metaphorical meaning of being eaten!
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A dark and oppressive atmosphere surrounds the house.
The background text is drawn directly from the witch’s dialogue, serving two key purposes. First, it adds texture to the background, making it more visually intriguing. Second, it symbolises the witch’s looming and oppressive presence throughout the story.
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The hand-drawn title and brushstroke texture evoke the tales’s folkloric roots.
The dark green-black tones enhance the house’s silhouette, making it almost luminous and giving a sense of mystery.
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The title is trapped inside the house, directly reflecting one of the main themes of the story.
This striking contrast naturally draws the eye, placing emphasis on the title.