Skin

This lyrical graphic novel paints a captivating portrait of two women in search of themselves. 

New York Public Library Best Comics for Adults 2025

A Darien Library Best Book of 2025

Feeling adrift after her daughter leaves the nest, Rita makes the audacious move to model nude for a live drawing class. There, she meets Esther, an artist who sees beyond the superficial and captures people’s true essences in her drawings. The two connect as kindred spirits, and their unexpected, yet endearing relationship teaches them to accept their eccentricities and feel comfortable in their own skin.

Skin is the striking debut graphic novel by writer Mieke Versyp and illustrator Sabien Clement. In this seamless collaboration, poetic turns of phrase pair with impressionistic watercolors, creating a tangible intimacy between words and imagery. Keen observation and dynamic artistry combine to tell a tender story of the human condition, as playful and devastating as life itself.

Full-color illustrations throughout

Mieke Versyp is a dramaturge and children’s author. She writes imaginative, playful stories with dark undercurrents and double meanings that appeal to both young and old.Versyp debuted in 2007 with the prize-winning picture book Linus, illustrated by Pieter Gaudesaboos and Sabien Clement.

Sabien Clement made her debut as an illustrator in 2002 with drawings for the award-winning poetry book Jij lievert. Her work is characterized by tenderness, vulnerability, a dash of spontaneity. She lives in Ghent, Belgium.

Sammy Koot is the Foreign Rights Manager at Oogachtend Publishing in Leuven, Belgium.