Karl Meersman
Encyclopedia
Karl Meersman is a Belgian
editorial cartoonist
, living in Sint-Niklaas
. He is known for his weekly caricatures in the popular magazines Trends and Knack
. Since 2004, Meersman lives with former VRT
journalist Lies Martens.
Meersman's art has been widely lauded in the press, in the art world, and in politics. He gained international attention when his work was displayed in the Belgian consulate in New York
, in 2006–2007.
, where they worked as teachers. At age thirteen, he entered a drawing contest for children, but was disqualified because the jury did not believe his entry was drawn by a child. After a protest from his father and performing the same drawing with the jury present, he won the prize money: 75,000 Belgian franc
s.
After deciding he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his parents, he dropped out of high school and attended different art night schools instead. He was awarded degrees in publicity, printmaking, and figure drawing. In the meantime his father sent him to a photogravure
company, where Meersman held a day job. When his father's drawing workshop became too big to be run by a single person, he became permanently involved there.
sector. He was hired as a caricaturist by Trends magazine in 1987 after he was noticed drawing visitors in a furniture shop, and has been drawing political cartoons for the magazine weekly ever since. The economical magazine calls the cartoonist their "jester of the socio-economic society". In 1991, together with two of his siblings, Meersman took over his father's drawing studio Meersman I.D. to manage the ever-growing work load. He led the atelier until 2004, when the studio decided that the publicity sector had become too much for them. In 2002, he became the permanent illustrator for Focus Knack, for which he draws caricatures of showbiz
people most of the time.
and pencil
on paper. His interest in contemporary politics and news led him to political caricature as a living, and as he says: "I like to stand with both feet in the present, my work is a mirror of today."
As his biggest influences he names Egon Schiele
and the satirical prints in the tradition of Félicien Rops
, Toulouse Lautrec, and Honoré Daumier
. His style is described as realism with a strong eye for detail.
Besides caricatures and editorial cartoons Meersman also produces poster
s, stamp
s, painting
s, and interior design
s. In the past he also produced book illustrations and children's books.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
editorial cartoonist
Editorial cartoonist
An editorial cartoonist, also known as a political cartoonist, is an artist who draws editorial cartoons that contain some level of political or social commentary....
, living in Sint-Niklaas
Sint-Niklaas
Sint-Niklaas is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Sint-Niklaas proper and the towns of Belsele, Nieuwkerken-Waas, and Sinaai....
. He is known for his weekly caricatures in the popular magazines Trends and Knack
Knack (magazine)
Knack is a Belgian weekly newsmagazine covering local news, sports, business, jobs, and community events.It was founded in 1971 and quickly grew out to be a leading Belgian magazine. Currently it has a circulation of about 121.780....
. Since 2004, Meersman lives with former VRT
Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
The Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie , or VRT, is a publicly-funded broadcaster of radio and television in Flanders ....
journalist Lies Martens.
Meersman's art has been widely lauded in the press, in the art world, and in politics. He gained international attention when his work was displayed in the Belgian consulate in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, in 2006–2007.
Early life
Meersman comes from an artistic family. His grandfather was a painter, and both his mother and father were professional artists. When he was a young boy his parents took him to the art school in TemseTemse
Temse is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Elversele, Steendorp, Temse proper and Tielrode. On January 1, 2006 Temse had a total population of 26,287...
, where they worked as teachers. At age thirteen, he entered a drawing contest for children, but was disqualified because the jury did not believe his entry was drawn by a child. After a protest from his father and performing the same drawing with the jury present, he won the prize money: 75,000 Belgian franc
Belgian franc
The franc was the currency of Belgium until 2002 when the euro was introduced into circulation. It was subdivided into centimes , 100 centiem or Centime .-History:...
s.
After deciding he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his parents, he dropped out of high school and attended different art night schools instead. He was awarded degrees in publicity, printmaking, and figure drawing. In the meantime his father sent him to a photogravure
Photogravure
Photogravure is an intaglio printmaking or photo-mechanical process whereby a copper plate is coated with a light-sensitive gelatin tissue which had been exposed to a film positive, and then etched, resulting in a high quality intaglio print that can reproduce the detail and continuous tones of a...
company, where Meersman held a day job. When his father's drawing workshop became too big to be run by a single person, he became permanently involved there.
Career
Initially, Meersman was mainly occupied with work in the publicityPublicity
Publicity is the deliberate attempt to manage the public's perception of a subject. The subjects of publicity include people , goods and services, organizations of all kinds, and works of art or entertainment.From a marketing perspective, publicity is one component of promotion which is one...
sector. He was hired as a caricaturist by Trends magazine in 1987 after he was noticed drawing visitors in a furniture shop, and has been drawing political cartoons for the magazine weekly ever since. The economical magazine calls the cartoonist their "jester of the socio-economic society". In 1991, together with two of his siblings, Meersman took over his father's drawing studio Meersman I.D. to manage the ever-growing work load. He led the atelier until 2004, when the studio decided that the publicity sector had become too much for them. In 2002, he became the permanent illustrator for Focus Knack, for which he draws caricatures of showbiz
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
people most of the time.
Artwork
The artwork for magazines is done using traditional techniques: watercolorWatercolor painting
Watercolor or watercolour , also aquarelle from French, is a painting method. A watercolor is the medium or the resulting artwork in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-soluble vehicle...
and pencil
Pencil
A pencil is a writing implement or art medium usually constructed of a narrow, solid pigment core inside a protective casing. The case prevents the core from breaking, and also from marking the user’s hand during use....
on paper. His interest in contemporary politics and news led him to political caricature as a living, and as he says: "I like to stand with both feet in the present, my work is a mirror of today."
As his biggest influences he names Egon Schiele
Egon Schiele
Egon Schiele was an Austrian painter. A protégé of Gustav Klimt, Schiele was a major figurative painter of the early 20th century. His work is noted for its intensity, and the many self-portraits the artist produced...
and the satirical prints in the tradition of Félicien Rops
Félicien Rops
Félicien Rops was a Belgian artist, and printmaker in etching and aquatint.-Early life:Rops was born in Namur as the only son to Nicholas Rops and Sophie Maubile. He was educated at the University of Brussels...
, Toulouse Lautrec, and Honoré Daumier
Honoré Daumier
Honoré Daumier was a French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor, whose many works offer commentary on social and political life in France in the 19th century....
. His style is described as realism with a strong eye for detail.
Besides caricatures and editorial cartoons Meersman also produces poster
Poster
A poster is any piece of printed paper designed to be attached to a wall or vertical surface. Typically posters include both textual and graphic elements, although a poster may be either wholly graphical or wholly text. Posters are designed to be both eye-catching and informative. Posters may be...
s, stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s, painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
s, and interior design
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
s. In the past he also produced book illustrations and children's books.
Editorial cartoon
- Meersman; Karl (2010). VIPS TOO : very important paintings too. Roularta Books. ISBN 9789086793587
- Meersman, Karl (2007). VIPS : very important paintings. Roularta. ISBN 9789054665120
- Vandamme, Hugo and Cambien, Karel (2007). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Wat baten kaars en bril : management in spreekwoorden : wat je op school niet leert. Roularta. ISBN 9789054669951
- Trends (2000). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. België : tekenend en getekend 1990-2000 : Karl Meersman tekent tien jaar België / La Belgique traits pour traits 1990-2000 : Karl Meersman croque dix belges années. Roularta. ISBN 90-5466-478-9
- Seghers, Hendrik (1997). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. De nieuwe collaboratie : een ondernemer in het verzet. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6152-655-8
- Trends (1993). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. België in 30 hoofdstukken : over economie en politiek in de jaren '90. Roularta. ISBN 90-5466-073-2
- Uytterhoeven, Mark (1988). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Wat een jaar, beste spotliefhebber! : de hoogtepunten van het sportjaar 1988. Roularta. ISBN 90-72411-12-9
Child and young adult literature
- Meersman, Karl (2002). Een melkje wolk. Afijn. ISBN 90-5933-017-X
- Kolet, Janssen (2000). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Wisselkind : roman. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-935-8
- Linders, Jac (1999). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. De derde kans. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-922-6
- De Maeyer, Gregie (1998). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. De koningste koning. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-878-5
- Langenus, Ron (1997). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Onder de zwarte heuvel. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-777-0
- Linders, Jac (1997). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Complot tegen Jesse. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-820-3
- De Maeyer, Gregie (1996). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Ach. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-745-2
- Langenus, Ron (1996). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Het geheim van de Zwarte Dame. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-735-5
Further reading
- Herremans, Ben (2003). Karl Meersman : een getekend wereldbeeld / Karl Meersman traits marquant le monde. Roularta. ISBN 90-5466-593-9