An illustration inspired by one of my favorite books: Momo by Michael Ende, a true German classic. I probably reread it once a year. Beyond the beautiful writing, its central message about time, consumerism, and the way we spend our lives never loses relevance.

For those unfamiliar with the story: Momo follows a young girl who fights against the “Grey Gentlemen”, mysterious figures who convince people to save time while quietly stealing it from them. The book turns big philosophical ideas into something imaginative, emotional, and deeply human.

One of the moments that always stayed with me is when Momo arrives at Master Hora’s place and follows the tortoise Cassiopeia through the enormous hall filled with clocks of every imaginable kind. I loved the idea of this endless cathedral of time and thought it would make the perfect setting for a cover illustration.

In the foreground, Momo and Cassiopeia move through a surreal landscape of clocks and towering grandfather watches that almost resemble a city skyline. In the background, the anonymous silhouettes of the Grey Gentlemen loom over the scene, their cigar smoke slowly swallowing the space above them.

I’ve always loved layered book covers with hidden details and small visual stories tucked away inside them. The kind of cover you can get lost in for a while when you need a break from reading, while still staying inside the world of the book.