“Insectes”

Kafka

“Dear sir, recently you wrote to me that Ottomar Starke would design the cover of The Metamorphosis. I got a little, probably useless scare.

Useless according to what I know of that artist in Napoleon. It occurred to me, since Starke is a real illustrator, that perhaps he might want to draw the insect. Not this, please, not this!

I don’t want to limit his freedom of action, I just want to advance a prayer deriving from my obviously better knowledge of history. The insect cannot be drawn.

But it can’t even be shown from afar. If this intention does not exist, if, therefore, my request is ridiculous, so much the better. I would be grateful if you would convey my wish.

If I could make a proposal for an illustration, I would choose scenes such as: the parents and the prosecutor in front of the closed door or, even better, the parents and the sister in the lit room, while the door leading into the adjoining room, totally dark, is open … “

Letter to Kurt Wolff