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The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald
Luxury Illuminated edition Beehive Books
The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald
STANDARD EDITION - NUMBERED EDITION
The numbered edition is a gilded-edge volume, signed and numbered by the artists and limited to a run of 250.
Concept created and pencil sketches developed prior to Summer 2020 (Final artwork files delivered to the publisher in December 2020). Kickstarter campaign February 1, 2021.
Cover design, Illustrations and patterns decorated by ©2020-21 Balbusso Twins. All rights reserved.
Part of Beehive Books Illuminated Editions, in which today’s greatest graphic artists bring new life to literary classics with original illustration and design. The F. Scott Fitzgerald's THE GREAT GATSBY featuring eye-popping, full-color illustrations that combine jazz age decadence with a sleek modern sensibility. This high-end publication brings us into Gatsby's world and Gatsby into ours. Featuring an introduction by William Cain, the Mary Jewett Gaiser Professor of English at Wellesley College specialising in nineteenth and early twentieth century American literature. Graphic design by Maëlle Doliveux, printed by Beehive Books 2022.
Beyond the Text: The Symbolism of the Red Shoes in The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald - Accident art ©2020-21 Balbusso Twins
Symbolism of the Red Shoes in The Great Gatsby
When we illustrated F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, our goal was to look far beyond the literal text.
For us, true illustration is not merely drawing what is already written; it is an intellectual act of translating psychological depth into timeless symbols. A defining moment of our visual narrative is the tragic car crash scene. In the original English text, Fitzgerald describes the violence of the impact but makes absolutely no mention of any specific objects or clothing like footwear.
We made a deliberate, deeply personal choice to introduce a powerful artistic license: omitting the victim's body entirely and focusing the composition on a pair of red shoes flying through the air. Conceived in our studio during the pandemic (March 2020) for our centenary visual research, this was our own symbolic metaphor designed to evoke the tragic, contemporary theme of violence against women.
By grounding this historical literary masterpiece with a modern, haunting symbol, we aimed to give the scene a new layer of profound conceptual meaning. We are incredibly proud of how this unique visual solution and layout came to life, expanding the boundaries of how this classic is perceived. Original art is about forging a vision where it didn't exist before!
AWARDS AND HONORS
2023 Platinum Graphis Design Award 2024
2023 WIA World Illustration Awards 2023 Longlisted
2023 American Illustration 42 SELECTED Winner, Annual Book US
2022 Merit Award 3x3 Show No.19, US
2022 American Illustration 41 SELECTED Winner, Annual Book US
2022 CA's Award of Excellence Illustration Annual 63, USA
2021 “Illustrators 64” selected, Society of Illustrators NYC, US
Jackets Off!The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald
Bologna Book Plus 2025 Exhibit: The Showcase Centres Around International Editions of One Title
Jacket Off is organized by Bologna BookPlus and curated by Mimaster Illustrazione