A couple of weeks back, we wrote about the American Society of Magazine Editors’ choices for their favorite magazine covers of 2011. While some of the design there was fascinating, we’re pretty sure that we’ve already seen our favorite cover of 2012: the cover of next Monday’s New Yorker, which commemorates Barack Obama’s statement on gay marriage this week with an illustration of the White House adorned with rainbow columns. It’s simple, elegant, eloquent and a fine example of the old adage that a picture is worth 1,000 words. The image is called “Spectrum of Light,” and is by illustrator Bob Staake, from whom there is a brief statement on the magazine’s website: “I am honored to be doing this cover… I wanted to celebrate the bravery of the President’s statement—a statement long overdue—but all the more appreciated in this political year. We are on the right side of history.” Bravo.