Illustration – Rückkehr der Optanten

Die Rückkehr der Optanten 

Il Ritorno degli optanti

I created an illustration about the topic of the return of the optants to South Tyrol. This assignment is part of a collaboration for a book by Jutta Kustatscher and Wolfgang Mayer that is published by Resia on occasion of the “50 Jahre 2. Autonomiestatut”. After choosing to leave their homes to move to Germany and Austria  most optants had to return and after all give up their culture because they were not given the same life abroad as promised. The south tyroleans were left with confusion and sadness of giving up their beliefs. The flower in the illustration symbolises South Tyrol whereas the two details on the left and right show Germany and Austria. I drew this illustration freehand on Adobe Illustrator and used several brushes  and colours to achieve contrast.