Hugo Pratt's Indian Stories Reimagined in Illustrated Book

The book 'Passi silenziosi nel bosco' (Silent Steps in the Woods) intertwines the atmosphere of the Great North as told by Hugo Pratt, the poetic watercolors of Nicola Magrin, and the musical prose of Marco Steiner. Published by Nuages gallery in Milan, the work is a deep immersion into nature, born from Steiner's re-reading of Pratt's 'Ticonderoga' and 'Wheeling,' walks in the woods, and study of Indian legends. Steiner describes the process as perceiving poetry and a cry of pain from mistreated nature. The project was strongly desired by Cristina Taverna, a historic gallerist and friend of Pratt, who recalled Pratt whispering the phrase 'Passi felpati nel bosco' years ago, quoting Robert Louis Stevenson's ballad 'Ticonderoga.' Magrin's illustrations are meant to be penetrated not only visually but also through listening to the sound of words. He works with natural pigments and paper in an artisanal, meditative process. Steiner aimed not for an enchanted walk but a journey into the memory of Pratt's art and nature, connecting through silences, music by Joe Pass, Celtic harps, and Erik Satie. The book was published in 2020, 72 pages, €37, ISBN 8896563704.