Before the rooster crows (by Cesare Pavese, cover art) 1969

This 1969 illustration by Ferenc Pinter, the cover art for Cesare Pavese’s “Before the Rooster Crows”, depicts a lone figure standing in a beached, weathered boat. The perspective is low, emphasizing the boat’s scale and the figure’s isolation. The cloudy sky, the rough texture of the wood, and the figure’s dark silhouette all contribute to the work’s melancholic tone. The title, “Before the Rooster Crows,” suggests a sense of anticipation and impending change, making this a striking visual representation of Pavese’s classic novel.