"Crónicas, Tomo II" continues Alejo Carpentier's groundbreaking collection of journalistic chronicles, published by Editorial Arte y Literatura in 1976. Raúl Martínez's cover design maintains the rhythmic geometric pattern from Volume I but transforms it through a dramatic color shift—replacing the cool green background with a vibrant orange that energizes the composition. The same rounded rectangular forms in yellow, brown, and orange dance across the cover, creating visual continuity across the series while asserting each volume's distinct identity through chromatic variation.
This design strategy exemplifies Martínez's sophisticated understanding of series design in Cuban publishing, where maintaining visual coherence while creating variety was essential for multi-volume works. The bold orange backdrop reflects the warmth and vitality of Carpentier's prose chronicles, which captured the cultural ferment of his era. Printed at the Instituto Cubano del Libro's Unidad Productora 08 "Mario Reguera Gómez" in January 1976, this volume demonstrates the high production standards of Cuban book manufacturing during the 1970s. The cover's striking color palette and geometric precision represent the pinnacle of revolutionary-era graphic design, when books were conceived as complete aesthetic experiences that merged literary content with visual artistry, making Cuban publications highly collectible examples of modernist book design.