Franka #20

Franka strides forward with fierce confidence on this striking 2009 cover by Henk Kuijpers, her auburn hair loose and her small white dog trotting loyally at her feet — while four towering, winged goddess figures loom behind her in bold white against a vivid red background. The title "De Witte Godin" (The White Goddess) and the subtitle "De reis van de Ishtar — Deel 2" promise a mythologically charged second chapter rich with ancient mystery. Kuijpers' clean, expressive linework gives the whole image an elegant energy that makes this twentieth album in the long-running Dutch series a genuinely appealing addition to any shelf.