Marcinelle school

Typical vivid movement of Spirou and Marsupilami from André Franquin's comic Spirou et Fantasio

The terms "Marcinelle school" (French: École de Marcinelle) and "Charleroi school" (École de Charleroi) refer to a group of Belgian cartoonists formed by Joseph Gillain (known as Jijé) following World War II. The first generation, known as the "Bande à quatre" ("Gang of four"), consisted of Jijé and his assistants Franquin, Morris and Will. 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.[1]

The style of these cartoonists soon became the preferred in-house style for artists working at the influential Spirou magazine, and thus had a huge impact on the Belgian comics and Franco-Belgian comics scene, inspiring generations of cartoonists.[2]

Style

Gaston Lagaffe: even when characters are asleep, there is an impression of movement

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 these two styles have much in common, Marcinelle school is all about conveying the impression of movement, while ligne claire tends to be more schematic.[3]

List of artists

The artists most closely associated to the Marcinelle school are, Joseph Gillain (Jijé), André Franquin, Maurice de Bevere (Morris), Willy Maltaite (Will), Eddy Paape, Pierre Culliford (Peyo), Jean Roba and Victor Hubinon.[4][5]

École de Marcinelle
Illustrator Work
Precursors
Robert Velter Spirou
Fernand Dineur Tif et Tondu
Initiator
Jijé Spirou & Fantasio, Blondin et Cirage
1st Generation (40s)
André Franquin Spirou & Fantasio, Gaston, Marsupilami, Modeste et Pompon, Franquin's Last Laugh
Morris Lucky Luke, Rantanplan
Will Tif et Tondu, Isabelle
2nd Generation (50s)
Jidéhem Spirou & Fantasio, Gaston, Sophie
Peyo The Smurfs, Johan and Peewit, Benoît Brisefer, Poussy
Jean Roba Boule et Bill, La Ribambelle
Maurice Tillieux Gil Jourdan
Albert Uderzo Asterix, Oumpah-pah
Remacle Le Vieux Nick et Barbe-Noire
3rd Generation (60s)
Paul Deliège Bobo
Derib Yakari, Les Aventures d'Attila
Jacques Devos Génial Olivier
Dupa Cubitus
Jean-Claude Fournier Spirou & Fantasio
Gos Scrameustache, Natacha
Greg Achille Talon
Lambil Les Tuniques Bleues, Pauvre Lampil
Vittorio Leonardo Rantanplan
Raymond Macherot Sibylline, Chlorophylle, Clifton
Louis Salvérius Les Tuniques Bleues
Pierre Seron Les Petits Hommes
Turk Léonard
François Walthéry Natacha
Berck Sammy

References

  1. ^ "École de Marcinelle". granderegion.net (in French). 24 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Jijé". lambiek.net.
  3. ^ ""L'École de Marcinelle" ou "L'École de Charleroi"". jaimelesmots.com/ (in French). 20 March 2019.
  4. ^ "ÉCOLE DE MARCINELLE". amazoniebd.com (in French). 24 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Facéties autour de l'école de Marcinelle racontées par François Walthéry". actuabd.com (in French). 16 August 2021.