Stadskroniek | Oude Stad Nieuwe Ogen

Intro

For Oude Stad Nieuwe Ogen, I illustrated thirteen stories of thirteen women who migrated to Antwerp. Each narrative explores home, memory, culture, and resilience through deeply personal experiences.

My role was to translate these emotional journeys into visual scenes that honor their stories with warmth, depth, and sensitivity. 

About the Project:

The book gathers intimate testimonies from women who rebuilt their lives in Antwerp. My approach was rooted in empathy: each illustration needed to hold space for the complexity of their experiences: joy, nostalgia, loss, discovery, and belonging.

I worked closely with the writers and editors to develop a visual tone that felt honest and human, avoiding clichés and focusing instead on atmosphere, gesture, and symbolism.

The result is a collection of full-page illustrations that weave together portraiture, cityscapes, and emotional storytelling.

Process:

For each story:

1. I read the text multiple times to identify the emotional core

2. Extracted visual elements connected to memory, place, or identity

3. Sketched several concepts to explore tone

4. Chose a warm, textured color palette to unify the book

5. Illustrated each piece digitally with subtle textures reminiscent of traditional mediums

The goal was to create imagery that supported the text without overwhelming it.

Visual Approach:

The illustrations for this book blend soft atmospheric lighting with narrative moments: interior spaces, objects tied to memory, symbolic compositions, and city fragments. The palette is warm, mirroring the reflective, intimate nature of the stories.