“Bring Back the Sabbath,” an essay by Judith Shulevitz, was an argument for observing the ancient religious commandment to rest on the Sabbath. Shulevitz believes that the pleasures of a ritualized day of rest effectively counter the values of our workaholic culture—that we can force ourselves to adopt the habits of contemplation and serenity. The author argues that this is much more complicated than merely not working: that it is “exactingly intentional, requiring extensive advance preparation, involving a scrubbed house, a full larder, and a bath.” Brian Cronin’s illustration is meant to communicate the author’s insight that “interrupting the ceaseless round of striving requires a surprisingly strenuous act of will.” The simple, pale blue figure, faceless and quiet, has pulled the shade down over his identity, retreating from the reader and practically fading into the page. The quiet strength of the work gives the reader a sense of the power of the ideas contained within the article. The figure practically becomes its own meditative force field. The illustration is used in a classic magazine design format, full page on the right, facing a simple page of typography.

Beautiful colors, nicely fitting together on the page. Simply well done, clear message.