En la ventana
Juan Holguín
“En la ventana” is an illustrated book that invites the reader to observe the world from inside, through the eyes of someone looking out of the window. Each double page presents a new setting, depicting everyday but meaningful moments that show where the story unfolds: from landscapes of Colombia to places of study, nightclubs, vinyl shopping, the comfort of home and workspaces. In all of them, the same bird appears on the other side of the glass, silently keeping company with the one who watches.
Throughout the narrative, the bird becomes a symbol of constant presence and connection, recalling the invisible company of a loved one. Inspired by the relationship between the author and his grandfather, the story shows that the bonds we leave behind continue to accompany us, even in the small moments of everyday life.
In the end, the elements gathered across all the settings come together, revealing that the bird was always beside the same person. The journey culminates in the city of Porto, by the Douro River, where the bird shares a glass of wine with the one who watches: a moment of communion and memory, in which the author, Juan Díaz, closes the circle of this intimate, visual story, showing that, although those we love may leave, their presence remains in every place we visit.
Imprint / Technical Rider:
Year: 2025
Dimensions: 32 pages
Materials: Cover in 2 mm pressed board, laminated; text block on Munken Lynx 150 g/m².
Production and finishing: Xerox digital printing by Norcópia – Casulo d’Imagens, Lda.; hardcover in pressed board, sewn through the spine.
Resources and credits: Illustration: Juan Holguín.
Curricular Unit:
Illustration Contexts and Practices (1st year)
Supervising Professor:
Rui Vitorino Santos
Keywords: Memory, Grandfather and Grandson, Saudade, Picture Book