Client: Omu Gnom
Year: 2024
Type: packaging design, lettering
Painting: Cornelis Saftleven, courtesy of Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
Although the cover might seem odd at first, the human nature and the easily identifiable and relatable character traits from this 1600s painting make it suitable for a 2025 hip hop album cover.
The design revolves around Cornelis Saftleven’s 1642 painting “Figures before the Village Inn“. What caught my eye was the character in a blue shirt, the only one whose face we cannot see or read. The sword hidden behind his back became a key element of the design, contrasting with the social nature of the party, the musicians, and the relaxed, alcohol imbued atmosphere. The hidden sword raises the question of whether other people in the painting are hiding something behind their backs as well, thus emphasizing the album’s title (En: "Society's most sociable antisocial"). Other subtle elements are hinting towards antisocial behaviours, like the angry cat or the gambling monk, hidden on the CD. The abundance of themes throughout the album is reflected in one picture.
The album title was intertwined with the painting and placed in order to emphasize the key element. The letter S, which stands for (anti)social, was hand-drawn to create a disturbing element to the otherwise rhythmic succession of letters, once again reflecting the album title.
The back cover showcases the tracklist and the credits in a dynamic way that merge with the painting, making certain elements come alive.

