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Marimekko illustrator Aino-Maija Metsola creates covers for six Virginia Woolf books

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Date
27 July 2016
Six book covers by Virginia Woolf, arranged in two rows of three. Each cover features a different abstract painting in bold colours and the author’s name.
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Aino-Maija Metsola: Virginia Woolf Vintage Classics

Illustrator Aino-Maija Metsola, known for her textile design work for Finnish brand Marimekko, has designed six covers for Virginia Woolf books. The new paperback editions will be published by Vintage Classics on 6 October.

Channelling the scenery and ambience of each novel’s title, Helsinki-based Aino-Maija makes use of the abstract, painterly style she has honed as part of her illustration and graphic design work. Using mostly ink, markers and gouache, she builds bright and enchanting compositions with a rich colour palette.

The series of books, which includes A Room of One’s Own, The Waves, The Years, Mrs Dalloway, Orlando and To The Lighthouse, demonstrates her ability to adapt to a more restrictive canvas — a small rectangular book cover as opposed to a large repeat print.

A book cover for Virginia Woolf’s “To the Lighthouse” featuring an abstract blue and black illustration. A yellow sun glows beside textured blue shapes, all set against a background of blue and white splatters.
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Aino-Maija Metsola: Virginia Woolf’s To The Lighthouse

A book cover for Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own” rests on a background of vertical orange stripes. The cover features an abstract illustration of diagonal, textured bands in green, orange, red and blue.
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Aino-Maija Metsola: Virginia Woolf’s A Room Of One’s Own

A book cover featuring an abstract watercolour illustration of colourful, overlapping organic shapes. At the bottom, text reads “Virginia Woolf” and “MRS DALLOWAY”.
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Aino-Maija Metsola: Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway

A book cover for Virginia Woolf’s “Orlando” featuring an abstract illustration of flowing white and gold lines over a black background. A translucent blue shape sits in the centre, accented by smaller red and purple forms.
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Aino-Maija Metsola: Virginia Woolf’s Orlando

A book cover for Virginia Woolf’s “The Waves” features abstract, organic shapes in green, orange and brown. The cover is set against a background of blue and white linear patterns that resemble water.
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Aino-Maija Metsola: Virginia Woolf’s The Waves

A book cover for Virginia Woolf’s “The Years” rests on a patterned background of green and black oval shapes. The cover features an abstract illustration of golden and blue textured strokes above a dark, rounded form.
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Aino-Maija Metsola: Virginia Woolf’s The Years

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About the Author

Jenny Brewer

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Jenny oversees editorial output across It’s Nice That. Get in touch with writing pitches for features or opinion pieces, big creative story tips, or questions about all things editorial. jb@itsnicethat.com

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