One hundred years reading together

2023 marks the centennial of one of Spain’s most prominent bookshops: Casa del Libro. The history of Casa del Libro dates back to 1923, when the publishing house Calpe acquired a plot of land on the second stretch of Madrid’s Gran Vía to construct a building. This location has become a hub for the dissemination of books and an emblem of the brand, which now has over 54 bookshops across Spain and has adapted to new user needs with its online store.

With the aim of bringing Casa del Libro closer to younger audiences, we chose to celebrate its anniversary by paying tribute to all the writers who have made history since 1923. However, we did it in a fresh and modern way, reflecting current aesthetic codes and tastes. To achieve this, we selected three young illustrators to give form to our ideas. The result was a graphic series of ten illustrations, each representing the best-selling books of each decade of this century-long journey, incorporating key visual elements from their respective periods.

Each graphic is inspired by a book that defined its decade, influencing readers and capturing the graphic style of the time. The compositions include elements and artistic treatments that describe the essence of each piece of work.

To create each piece, we followed a creative process that captured the spirit of each piece of work, then adapted these ideas to different formats – printed posters for display at points of sale across Spain and digital assets, such as animated graphics for paid media campaigns). For example, we developed a piece dedicated to ‘La sombra del viento’ (The Shadow of the Wind).

• The work: The Shadow of the Wind is a story set in 1945 Barcelona, focusing on the search for truth and the mystery surrounding the enigmatic author, Julian Carax.
• Art and Style: As a literary work from the new millennium, it transports readers to Barcelona in 1945, a crucial moment in the city’s post-Civil War history. This decade was defined by austerity and simplicity due to the scarcity of resources after World War II and Spain’s autarchic policies, but there were also influences from the glamour of Hollywood, introduced through cinema.
• Visual proposal: We will explore early 20^th-century themes (Spanish Civil War, migration, historical memory, and daily life) and utilize comic book aesthetics as a creative resource. Key technical elements include precise line work and a distinct color palette.
• Composition: Each issue highlights a key moment in the story. The first issue focuses on the protagonist’s obsession with a book; in the second, his search for answers about the book begins; in the third issue, the quest to uncover the true author of the book unfolds; and finally, the figure of the mysterious author is revealed.

Through this series of graphics, Casa del Libro has not only honored the most representative works of Spanish literature but has also reaffirmed its strong connection and commitment to Spanish culture, providing a home to unique works and authors.