There's a pervasive sadness surrounding the main character in this book because from the top of his hat to the tip of his toes, he feels empty. We know this because, unlike everything else pictured, he is represented as completely negative space - a white outline, filled in with white. Things throughout his day are able to temporarily fill the void, like picking flowers, exploring an art gallery, and listening to a bird sing. But nothing lasts for long. Until the fateful day when he is walking with his head low and he passes by a similarly empty woman who is reading a book and disregarding her surroundings. Even though they pass each other by, they are altered by the experience and the book concludes with a glimmer of hope for each of them.
The White Ravens 2014 catalog notes that "with clear contours, strong lines, and bold colour fields . . . Sobral has created a touching picture book."
Vazio [Empty] by Catarina Sobral. Portugal: Pato Lógico, 2014. [9789899847033]
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