By the Way: Travel Tales Illustrated by Cynthia Kittler

Right in the thick of the pandemic, from 2020 to 2022, Berlin-based artist Cynthia Kittler illustrated The Washington Post’s By The Way concierge column between 2020 and 2022, capturing the strange, shifting moods of travel through a time of uncertainty and gradual recovery.

What began as a series addressing COVID-era dilemmas, from cancelled flights and postponed plans to longing for faraway places, slowly turned into a celebration of rediscovered freedom and wanderlust. Each piece reflects a moment in that collective journey: humor, frustration, nostalgia and ultimately, hope.

Cynthia’s playful yet sophisticated style combines bold colors, textured lines and exaggerated forms, balancing whimsy with sharp social observation. From fingerprint-faced travelers to airplanes draped in ghostly white sheets, her creations bring warmth and wit to a challenging theme. Created in collaboration with The Washington Post’s art directors, the series spans roughly 40 pieces, a visual chronicle of travel’s return to normality, one drawing at a time.

You can see more of Cynthia Kittler’s work on her website, Behance and Instagram.

More illustrations Cynthia Kittler’s website