Slow river

Winner of the 2014 Andersen Prize “for its vibrant and enchanting illustrations filled with utter, poignant beauty”, Fiume lento (Slow river) accompanies readers along the river Po, down to its estuary, travelling on its water as well as across time. No words, except for the introduction by Ermanno Olmi, summarising the thoughts lying behind the illustrated landscapes, which Sanna has meticulously observed and studied. Four seasons, four events. From the Polesine Flood in the autumn of 1951, to a calf born in winter; from a springtime love and a wedding to summer living, vividly captured by painter Antonio Ligabue. This large-format volume accommodates four strips per page, painted in unexpected watercolour hues that echo those of the lowlands' life-cycle: snow white, springtime reds, summer blues and autumn mists. The only protagonists are the river, the trees and some shy animals. People are just about noticeable on the background, giving readers the opportunity to go beyond and interpret the images in a more personal way, adding their own individual perspective.  

Fiume lento (Slow river)
by Alessandro Sanna
Rizzoli, 2013