Belgium’s Ninth Art

The recent Tintin Exhibition at London’s Somerset House inspired me to visit the Comics Art Museum during my recent trip to Brussels.

Franco-Belgian cultural status

Comics have a much higher status and longer tradition in Franco-Belgian culture. Comic strips are regarded as the Ninth Art in French-speaking countries.

Asterix

I remember reading Asterix books when learning French at O’ Level. It didn’t matter that I didn’t understand all the words. I got the general sense from the picture sequences.

I was delighted to see Asterix’s familiar figure in the museum’s foyer. There was also a Smurf, Lucky Luke, a red 2CV and Tintin’s moon rocket.

Tintin

A larger-than-life figure of Tintin appeared just inside the entrance (see first photo above). Tintin also appeared on the other side of the entrance along with Snowy (Milou), Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus. All were dressed in orange spacesuits.

History

The museum traced the history of comic strips back to cave paintings. Man has always shown a desire to tell stories. The Bayeux Tapestry was another notable example.

Methods

As you walk through the museum you see how comic strips evolved. Digital has transformed working methods. Educational comic strips developed in response to accusations of “impoverishing the intellects of their readers”. The approach demonstrated the versatility of the medium to spread knowledge to a wide audience.

Hergé’s skill

I particularly enjoyed the Tintin section. It pointed out the clever simplicity of Hergé’s drawings. Tintin’s face has very few features and is virtually expressionless. Drawings of Captain Haddock give contrast as an “emotional volcano”. Snowy's sequences emphasise that he is usually the one who saves the day.

Smurfs

Not every comic strip contained characters or stories that were familiar to me. The Smurfs are definitely well-known in the UK. They had their own section.

Belgian humour

I liked a comic strip entitled “COMMENT DEVENIR BELGE”. This was a humorous comic strip on how to become (or remain) Belgian. It used self-deprecating humour.

I found a complete book in the bookshop by Gilles Dal and Fred Jannin. It is the comic strip version of an earlier publication. It kept me well entertained as I waited for my train back to London. I giggled away just as I once did as a child reading Asterix. My poor fellow passengers must have thought me crazy.

Tintin at Christmas

Tintin is in London for Christmas.

Somerset House* has opened a window on one of the world’s best-known comic characters and his Belgian creator Hergé (Georges Remi). Belgium's Hergé Museum helped mount this fascinating exhibition with materials from its archives. A novel creative approach brings Tintin to life for visitors.

As soon as you walk into the exhibition, you are sucked into Hergé’s comic world. The walls are painted with his famous characters and scenes. The French-speaking world views comics as the 9^th art.

Art gallery approach to the Tintin exhibition

Cartoons do not have the same status in the English-speaking world. The art gallery approach takes you by surprise. The characters are so ingrained into Belgian life that you find scenes depicted on the sides of buildings.

Hergé liked to use windows as story-telling devices. A porthole famously introduced Tintin to Captain Haddock. The exhibition recreates this feel by covering the windows with comic scenes (see  below).

Tintin at the window

I loved the clever use of the fireplace. Both Tintin and Snowy (Milou in French) are covered in soot.

A sooty Snowy (Milou) in the fireplace with Tintin alongside

As a linguist, it was great to find an exhibition in London with information in more than one language. British exhibitions are usually embarrassingly monolingual and often fail to cater for foreign visitors. A number of French-speaking visitors were present during my visit.

There are fascinating little insights and pictures scattered throughout the exhibition. I smiled at the comment from the young Hergé’s parents. They considered that their son was only well-behaved with a pencil in his hand.

An observation from Hergé reminds us of French novelist Gustave Flaubert’s “Madame Bovary, that’s me!”. While others might recreate his characters, only Hergé himself could give life to Tintin, Haddock, Calculus, etc. As Hergé said:

“They are my eyes, my senses, my lungs, my heart and soul”

Two scenes are particularly appropriate for this time of year. With them, Anglicity wishes all readers a Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmas and long live the yeti!

Characters with New Year banner, Tintin with long live peace

... and a Happy New Year!

Somerset House* is a cultural centre in the heart of London. Its famous courtyard fountains have featured in films. You can still catch the Tintin exhibition there until 31^st January 2016. Alternatively, you can visit the thought-provoking Big Bang Data exhibition until 28^th February 2016. There is even ice skating there until 10^th January 2016.