Tintin: Herge's Masterpiece
The definitive monograph on the art of Tintin. Since he first appeared in Herg©€s weekly cartoon strip in Le Petit Vingti¨me in Brussels in 1929, Tintin has become one of the most celebrated characters in the comic world. With more than 200 million copies of the famous twenty-four €œalbums€ sold worldwide, Herg©€s iconic hero has exploded genres and expectations, bringing readers of all ages to his stories for their unique mixture of artistry, history, and adventure. Â
Drawing on the archives of the Herg© Museum in Brussels, this book looks at the evolution of Herg©€s artwork, from the simplicity of the early newspaper strips to the sophisticated graphic work of the later books. An avid art collector, Herg© was inspired by Old Masters but infatuated with graphic design and modern art, from the Constructivist work he studied in his youth to the Lichtensteins and Mir³s he would travel to see in his maturity. Â
Written by the Belgian art critic Pierre Sterckx€"and translated by the British expert on Tintin, Michael Farr€"this is the definitive book on the art of Tintin. With rarely seen pencil sketches, character drawings, and watercolors alongside original artwork from the finished stories, the book illuminates Tintin€s progress from whimsical caricature to profound icon and reveals Herg©€s parallel development from cartoonist to artist.