The Nonexistent Knight by Italo Calvino
I have been asked to create illustrations for one of my favourite books by Italo Calvino The Nonexistent Knight (Italian: Il cavaliere inesistente). A story about a knight that exists only as an empty armour. The book is about the struggle of being an empty armour, indifferent to emotions, and the need to feel like a human.
The illustrations are created with the use of four primary water colors on paper. And are inspired by the simplicity of constructivist artists.
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Jan_Ciecierski_Italo_Calvino_Nonexistent_knight_1-723x1024.jpg)
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Jan_Ciecierski_Italo_Calvino_Nonexistent_knight_2-725x1024.jpg)
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Jan_Ciecierski_Italo_Calvino_Nonexistent_knight_3-725x1024.jpg)
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Jan_Ciecierski_Italo_Calvino_Nonexistent_knight_4-725x1024.jpg)
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Jan_Ciecierski_Italo_Calvino_Nonexistent_knight_5-725x1024.jpg)
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Jan_Ciecierski_Italo_Calvino_Nonexistent_knight_6-725x1024.jpg)
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Jan_Ciecierski_Italo_Calvino_Nonexistent_knight_7-725x1024.jpg)
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Jan_Ciecierski_Italo_Calvino_Nonexistent_knight_8-725x1024.jpg)
NRC Handelsbald – De snelle keuken
For the culinary section of NRC Handelsblad, I have created a series of illustrations using a combination of red-colored paper collage and mouse drawings, resulting in fast illustrations, what corresponds to the title “the fast kitchen”.
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/De-Snelle-keuken-–-Jan-Ciecierski-2-1024x724.png)
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/De-Snelle-keuken-–-Jan-Ciecierski2-2-1024x724.png)
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/De-Snelle-keuken-–-Jan-Ciecierski3-2-1024x724.png)
Illustrations for children picture book “Kinga and how to figure her out?”
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Picturebook-–-Kinga-–-Jan-Ciecierski2-1-1024x438.png)
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Picturebook-–-Kinga-–-Jan-Ciecierski5-1-1024x671.png)
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Picturebook-–-Kinga-–-Jan-Ciecierski4-1-1024x365.png)
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Picturebook-–-Kinga-–-Jan-Ciecierski-2-1024x724.png)
![](https://janciecierski.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Picturebook-–-Kinga-–-Jan-Ciecierski6-1-1024x724.png)