on magazine covers: we have some questions

Today, let the chapped, raw edges of your sanity be soothed by looking at the process images for the latest New Yorker cover, as tweeted out by the artist Tom Gauld.

There’s a good Q&A with him about the ~winter jungleland~ theme online, but honestly what we would really love is a 5,000-word piece on why The New Yorker’s held steadfast to investing in illustrated magazine covers (like, how much $$ do you think a cover art commission is?? Do you guys think commissioning painters/illustrators every week is more expensive than monthly cover photoshoots?) when every other high-profile mag has either opted for pastel-y portraiture (i.e. GQ/Vanity Fair) or what one might generously call extreme minimalism (lol hi @TheAtlantic).

Please forward us answers to these pressing Qs if you have them!!!