The Book Cover of “Hometown-故乡”
Date
1926
Credits
- Tao Yuanqing Artist
Format
- Book Cover 279
Publishers
Techniques
- offset lithography 567
- printing 701
Dimensions
19 × 26 cm
Locations Made
- China 64
- Beijing Shi 5
- Beijing 5
“Hometown-故乡” by Lu Xun is an autobiographical narrative.
The color scarlet (or magenta or vermilion) symbolizes joy, passion or strong emotions in traditional culture. Placing it on top of the novel “Hometown” by Lu Xun may have a contrasting/counterpointing effect: the “homesickness” and “conflict with reality” in Lu Xun's writing, paired with the warm red, adds to the tension. Tao Yuanqing may have used simplified or figurative elements with rustic, fishing or old-fashioned scenes on the cover based on the theme of Lu Xun's novella Hometown, and then used “red” as the main tone to highlight the contrast between sadness and intensity (in line with the common critical realism style of Lu Xun's works).
