Marcinelle school
Encyclopedia
The term "Marcinelle school" (in French, École de Marcinelle, also known as "Charleroi school", École de Charleroi) refers to a group of Belgian cartoonists
formed by Joseph Gillain (Jijé
) following World War II
. Marcinelle school cartoonists were all associated with the weekly magazine, Spirou
, whose offices in the 1940s were located in the town of Marcinelle
, near Charleroi
in Belgium.
Stylistically, the Marcinelle school is a mix of cartoonish and realist, and is also sometimes called comic-dynamic ("comic" here refers to "comical", not the medium). It is often cited in books in opposition to Hergé
's ligne claire
style. Though both styles have much in common, Marcinelle school is all about conveying the impression of movement
, while ligne claire tends to be more schematic
.
The artists most closely associated to the Marcinelle school are:
Other artists considered part of the School include:
Franco-Belgian comics
Franco-Belgian comics are comics that are created in Belgium and France. These countries have a long tradition in comics and comic books, where they are known as BDs, an abbreviation of bande dessinée in French and stripverhalen in Dutch...
formed by Joseph Gillain (Jijé
Jijé
Jijé was a Belgian comics artist, best known for being a seminal artist on the Spirou et Fantasio strip and the creator of one of the first major European western strips, Jerry Spring.-Biography:Born Joseph Gillain in Gedinne, Namur, he completed various art studies Jijé (13 January 1914 – 20...
) following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Marcinelle school cartoonists were all associated with the weekly magazine, Spirou
Spirou (magazine)
Spirou magazine is a weekly Belgian comics magazine published by the Dupuis company...
, whose offices in the 1940s were located in the town of Marcinelle
Marcinelle
Marcinelle is a Walloon town in the Belgian province of Hainaut, it is currently a municipality within the Charleroi borders. Until 1977, the town was a municipality of its own....
, near Charleroi
Charleroi
Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...
in Belgium.
Stylistically, the Marcinelle school is a mix of cartoonish and realist, and is also sometimes called comic-dynamic ("comic" here refers to "comical", not the medium). It is often cited in books in opposition to Hergé
Hergé
Georges Prosper Remi , better known by the pen name Hergé, was a Belgian comics writer and artist. His best known and most substantial work is the 23 completed comic books in The Adventures of Tintin series, which he wrote and illustrated from 1929 until his death in 1983, although he was also...
's ligne claire
Ligne claire
Ligne claire is a style of drawing pioneered by Hergé, the Belgian creator of The Adventures of Tintin. It uses clear strong lines of uniform importance. Artists working in it do not use hatching, while contrast is downplayed as well...
style. Though both styles have much in common, Marcinelle school is all about conveying the impression of movement
Motion (physics)
In physics, motion is a change in position of an object with respect to time. Change in action is the result of an unbalanced force. Motion is typically described in terms of velocity, acceleration, displacement and time . An object's velocity cannot change unless it is acted upon by a force, as...
, while ligne claire tends to be more schematic
Schematic
A schematic diagram represents the elements of a system using abstract, graphic symbols rather than realistic pictures. A schematic usually omits all details that are not relevant to the information the schematic is intended to convey, and may add unrealistic elements that aid comprehension...
.
- Joseph GillainJijéJijé was a Belgian comics artist, best known for being a seminal artist on the Spirou et Fantasio strip and the creator of one of the first major European western strips, Jerry Spring.-Biography:Born Joseph Gillain in Gedinne, Namur, he completed various art studies Jijé (13 January 1914 – 20...
(Jijé) - André FranquinAndré FranquinAndré Franquin was an influential Belgian comics artist, whose best known comic strip creations are Gaston and Marsupilami, created while he worked on the Spirou et Fantasio comic strip from 1947 to 1969, during a period seen by many as the series' golden age.-Franquin's beginnings:Franquin was...
- Maurice de BevereMorris (comics)Maurice De Bevere , better known as Morris, was a Belgian cartoonist and the creator of Lucky Luke. His pen name is an alternate spelling of his first name.-Biography:...
(Morris) - Willy MaltaiteWill (comics)Willy Maltaite known by the pseudonym Will, was a comics creator and comics artist in the Franco-Belgian tradition...
(Will) - Eddy PaapeEddy PaapeEddy Paape is a Franco-Belgian comics artist best known for illustrating the series Luc Orient.-Biography:Eddy Paape was born in Grivegnée , Belgium in 1920...
- Pierre CullifordPeyoPierre Culliford , known as Peyo, was a Belgian comics artist, perhaps best known for the creation of The Smurfs comic strip.-Biography:...
(Peyo) - Jean RobaJean RobaJean Roba was a Belgian comics author from the Marcinelle school. His best-known work is Boule et Bill.-Biography:...
- Victor HubinonVictor HubinonVictor Hubinon was a Belgian comic-book artist, best known for the series Buck Danny and Redbeard.-Biography:...
Other artists considered part of the School include:
- Jean de Mesmaeker (Jidéhem)
- Paul DeliègePaul DeliègePaul Deliège was a Belgian artist and writer of comics, and was married with two children.-Biography:Deliège was born in Olne. He started in the daily Le Soir with Père Bricole et Félicien et les Romanis. In 1959, he got into éditions Dupuis where he launched les aventures de Théophile et...
- Pierre SeronPierre SeronPierre Seron is a Belgian comic book artist born in Chênée on 9 February 1942.-Biography:He spent the first few years of his life in Liège then followed the work transfers of his father, an engineer, to Montreal, Canada, Libourne, France, the Bordeaux region, Givet in the Ardennes region and then...
- Sirius
- Maurice TillieuxMaurice TillieuxMaurice Tillieux was a Belgian writer and comic artist. He is regarded by many as a major figure of post-war Belgian comics.-Early life:...
- François WalthéryFrançois WalthéryFrançois Walthéry is a Belgian comics artist, best known for his series featuring an adventurous flight attendant, Natacha.-Biography:...
- Marc Wasterlain