sign in sign up
<<
Home , Belvision Studios, Bob de Moor, Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus, Rastapopoulos, Snowy (character)

14 | BEMUSE | Nº 19 MUSEINGS. | APR – JUN 2012 | 15

ABOUT A BOY TEXT BY LUCILLE YAP IMAGES: POUR TOUS LES VISUELS D’HERGÉ, ‘THE ADVENTURES OF ’ © HERGÉ/MOULINSART 2012 AT THE SINGAPORE PHILATELIC MUSEUM 16 | BEMUSE | Nº 19 MUSEINGS. | APR – JUN 2012 | 17

Shown in this exhibition are stamps from SPM’s permanent collection. Also on display are a wide range of Tintin col- lectibles and rarely seen original stamp artworks on loan from the Museum Voor Communicatie in the Netherlands and L’Adresse Musée de La Poste in France.

“TINTIN BROUGHT ME HAPPINESS. HERGÉ – CREATOR OF TINTIN It is difficult to separate Hergé’s life from “AS I WAS A BOY SCOUT, I STARTED I DID MY BEST AT WHAT I WAS DOING his work. As a child, his sketches lined TELLING THE STORY OF A LITTLE AND IT WASN’T ALWAYS EASY. the margins of his exercise books. During his teenage years, he was always with his BOY SCOUT TO OTHER LITTLE BUT I HAD A LOT OF FUN. sketchbook, and his adult life was spent BOY SCOUTS … THESE WERE NOT MOREOVER… I GOT PAID FOR DOING IT…” eternally stuck to his drawing board. His fictional creation was part of him, YET REAL COMIC STRIPS: THEY — hergé, 30 december 1975 — living within him and playing key roles in WERE MORE LIKE STORIES WITH his life. His life influenced his creation, and his creation influenced his life. ILLUSTRATIONS AND, FROM TIME TO from 5 november 2011 to 31 May 2012, From youth to adulthood, Hergé drew TIME, A SHY LITTLE EXCLAMATION the Singapore Philatelic Museum (SPM) alone, with the occasional one-off col- celebrates one of the most beloved comic laborations. His was the work of a master MARK OR QUESTION MARK.” characters worldwide, the boy reporter craftsman, and it came from his heart and — hergé, 1975 Tintin. Created by Belgian comic artist his technical expertise. But when Hergé Georges Remi (1907-1983) – also known reached the age of 40, he began to favour as Hergé, Tintin is a teenage journalist working within a team and set up Studios who began a series of exciting adventures Hergé in 1950. The scout’s honour he so strongly em- in 1929, accompanied by his faithful dog Hergé’s studio allowed many talented braced put him through traumatic night- ; and later his faithful friends Cap- artists to flourish and develop their own mares when he was working on Tintin in tain Haddock and . work. It became an institution dedicated to . During this time, he suffered from Tintin’s adventures, which spanned 24 the conservation and exhibition of the clear dreams of a white monster that represented comic books, took the young reporter and line style. Hergé was the artistic director of the personal conflict he had over whether Snowy to various places around the world. Tintin magazine and the managing direc- he should divorce his wife of three decades They ventured into , Tibet and tor of Studios Hergé. But he was more of a to be with a 22-year-old employee. in Asia; to the Congo in Africa; Arabia in mentor than the boss of a company. the Middle East; Russia in Europe; North HIS JOURNEY BEGAN and South America; and even the Moon! SCOUT’S HONOUR After completing his studies in 1925, Hergé HIS CREATIONS In 1921, the young Hergé joined the Saint- worked in the subscriptions department of Hergé’s first drawings appeared in 1921 Boniface College scout group. He was given the Belgian newspaper Le Vingtième Siècle in Jamais assez, a scout magazine for the nickname ‘Curious Fox’. (‘The Twentieth Century’). schools; and then in Le Boy-Scout Belge, He was talent spotted by Father Nor- the monthly magazine of the Belgian “It was with that the world really bert Wallez, director of Le Vingtième Siècle. scouts. began to open up in front of me. It’s the • name: Georges Remi Noting Hergé’s abilities in lettering and From 1924 onwards, he signed his greatest memory of my youth. Being close to • date of birth: 22 May 1907 illustration, Father Wallez entrusted the drawings as Hergé, a phonetic transcrip- nature, respecting nature, resourcefulness. It • died: 3 March 1983 (age 75) young man with his first graphic design tion of his initials G.R. in the reverse was all very important to me and even if it all • nationality: Belgian assignment, such as the designing of head- (pronounced as ‘Air-Zhay’ in French). seems a bit old-fashioned today, I still hold • father: Alexis Remi (1882 -1970) ings, layout of newspaper columns and He created Totor, Patrol Leader of the dear the values we learned.” • mother: Elisabeth Dufour (1882 – 1946) creation of dropped initials, tailpieces and May Bugs, in Boy-Scout Belge in 1926. On – hergé, 1974 • sibling: Paul Remi illustrations. 10 January 1929, Tintin and Snowy made • spouse: First Wife – Germaine Kieckens, Three years later, Hergé was given his their debut in Le Petit Vingtième. In 1930, The budding artist was always with his secretary of Father Wallez, director first real responsibility as an illustrator Hergé introduced Quick and Flupke, street sketchbook and pencil, sketching scenes of Le Vingtième Siècle. Married in 1932, when he became the editor of Le Petit Ving- urchins from the backstreets of of daily scout-life, landscapes from his trav- separated in 1960, and divorced in 1977. tième (‘The Little Twentieth’), the children’s who starred in short stories in Le Petit els and life portraits. The teenager quickly • spouse: Second Wife – Fanny Vlamynck, supplement to Le Vingtième Siècle. The first Vingtième. Tintin in the Land of the So- built up a good reputation for drawing such colourist by profession. Married in 1977. issue was published on 1 November that viets was published by Editions du Petit subjects. • children: None year. Vingtième in the same year. 18 | BEMUSE | Nº 19 MUSEINGS. | APR – JUN 2012 | 19

WHO IS KNOW THE CAST Hergé’s world was occupied by sharply defined characters. They MAN OF LETTERS TINTIN’S TRADEMARKS TINTIN? were mostly inspired by real people who were either close to him, Hergé was a prolific writer. He was as historical figures or celebrities at that time. Their portraits and demanding of his writing as he was of Famous Hairstyle Tintin was definitely born of my unconscious psychological profiles had been meticulously composed, leaving his drawing and painting. He left behind His little blond quiff. This quiff was desire to be perfect, to be a hero. – hergé nothing to chance. approximately 40,000 letters. While the formed only on pages 7-8 of Tintin majority were about his work, there were in the Land of Soviets when he Hergé has never confirmed who inspired him many that touched on love, his emotions jumped into a car and raced away. to create the Tintin character, and it may never » SNOWY Some of ’s and social life. The sudden acceleration gave him be known who that was. But there are several Tintin’s constant companion distinctive features are his These writings bear witness to the the distinctive quiff which became claims. is an extraordinary white wire sailor outfit of black trousers, author’s character and taste. synonymous with Tintin. Since then fox terrier. He is known as sailor’s hat and blue pullover This is an extract of a letter he wrote to the little tuft of hair never droops. DANISH ACTOR PALLE HULD “Milou” in French. There are with the image of an anchor; a young girl, Anne le B., from Casablanca. (1912-2010) several stories on whom Snowy and a pipe in his mouth. His She had written to him about her teenage For decades he had claimed that his 44-day was named after. One version favourite exclamations are loneliness, thinking that she was writing to round-the-world trip, made in 1928 when he was that Snowy was named “Thundering Typhoons!” and Hergé’s grandfather! was a 15-year-old scout, was the inspiration to after Hergé’s girlfriend Marie- “Blistering Barnacles!” the appearance of Tintin a year later in Le Petit Louise Van Cutsem who was He is courageous but very “Dear Miss, Vingtième. called “Malou”. Another can- clumsy, adding much comic In response to your esteemed letter of 20 didate was René Milhoux, the relief to the stories. His main June, I have the honour of letting you FRENCH WAR AND TRAVEL best friend of French war and weakness is his excessive en- know: that I don’t have a beard, yet if I did PHOTOJOURNALIST ROBERT SEXE travel photojournalist Robert joyment of whisky and rum. have one, it would not be white, but just (1890-1986) Sexe, who was himself one of going grey; that as I don’t have a beard, my Like Tintin, he rode a motorbike and had a many speculated inspirations » CHANG CHONG-CHEN grandchildren can’t pull it; that further- best friend called René Milhoux (Tintin’s dog, of the Tintin character. This character was inspired more I’m not a true grandparent as I have Snowy, is called Milou in French). He also Snowy appeared right at by a young Chinese student CINEMA IN A COMIC STRIP neither beard nor grandchildren; that part toured the , the Congo and America the start, in the first draw- of similar name, ᴕɇȆ (1907- Hergé’s work drew inspiration from the art of the reason I’m not a grandparent may be in the same order as Tintin in the first three ing of the first adventure. He 1998), whom Hergé met in 1934 of film-making. The plots, atmosphere and because I’m not even a father; that I limit comic issues. sticks by Tintin through good when Chang was studying at framing that constituted his picture stories myself to having just one wife, because and bad times. He is faithful the Académie des Beaux-Arts were all heavily influenced by cinematic that’s the Belgian custom, in contrast to PAUL REMI, HERGÉ’S and courageous, saving Tintin in Brussels. style. This led to his adventures, recorded your area, where the custom is to have sev- Plus-Four Pants YOUNGER BROTHER (1912-1986) in numerous adventures. He is The extremely beneficial in mere ink on paper, turning out to be as eral; that I don’t have anyone who really is He is always dressed in a plain yel- A military officer, Paul Remi’s likeness to the known to be Tintin’s alter ego relationship inspired both animated and expressive as full-length the living model for Captain Haddock; that low or white collared shirt, often comic character prompted the nickname “Major and his only confidant at the Hergé’s professional and features shown in the cinema. I do generally receive and see the letters I with a blue sweater over, and his Tintin” by his colleagues. That led him to shave beginning. spiritual life. This marked a Hergé treated his characters as actors am sent; that if some malevolent force had trademark plus-four trousers. But off his hair and sport a ‘crew-cut’ look. Hergé turning point in Hergé’s career, and he used current events and from his- made your hand disappear, I would have he traded his plus-fours for bell- reciprocated by using this new look to create the » CAPTAIN and was central to the crea- tory for his scenes. In this way, his frames been deprived of this pleasure; and lastly bottoms in Tintin and the Picaros. villainous character Colonel Sponz, who was ARCHIBALD HADDOCK tion of in 1935. and speech bubbles speak directly to us. that I am very keen on writing back to you, featured for the first time in The Calculus Affair. The arrival of Captain Had- Twenty-four years later Hergé and here is the proof! dock does in some way replace celebrated his friendship with “I operate just like a film director. Firstly, Is there still anything else to write? “My childhood companion and playmate was my Snowy. The Captain has always Chang again in Tintin in Tibet. there’s the scenario. In principle, I’m the Since you haven’t asked me anything, I brother, who was five years younger than me. I been a bit naïve, temperamen- scriptwriter as well … It’s true that it’s don’t even have the ability to refuse you watched him, and he amused and fascinated me tal, loud, emotional and irrita- “I think that Chang was, with- very similar to the cinema. Then there’s anything. Basically, you have confided that … Undoubtedly, this explains how Tintin adopted ble, but he has a good heart and out knowing it, one of the artists the directing. The artist needs to be an you don’t even have a rat to talk to. If I his character, his gestures, his attitude.” is always willing to help people who had the most influence on actor and director simultaneously, and understand it correctly, you’ve promoted – hergé, 1943 who are in trouble. me. He was a young Chinese a draughtsman as well. He directs the me to that flattering role. His first appearance was student whom I had first met at actors. He has to feel when a character in a I am clean-shaven (‘ras’ in French) LAST BUT NOT LEAST, on pages 14 and 15 of The the time when he helped me to particular situation needs to run to the left and I could also be your rat, given that our HERGÉ HIMSELF Crab with the Golden Claws in create The Blue Lotus, and it or right or elsewhere. The artist also writes conversation would be rudimentary and The creator had claimed “Tintin, c’est moi” 1941. He has been a seafaring was he who made me aware of the dialogues, except in cases where there short-lived. It’s not only in fairy tales that or “Tintin, it’s me.” … “These are my eyes, my captain of over 20 years. His the absolute necessity of being is a team with a scriptwriter and artist. In a hideous beast can be transformed into meaning, my lungs, my tripe! ... I believe that I ancestor was Knight François well informed about a country my case, I have to be everything at once.” – Prince Charming, in the big round eyes of a am alone in being able to animate, in the sense de Hadoque who commanded and of constructing a narrative.” hergé, 1971 16-year old princess.” of giving a soul.” the frigate, the . – hergé, 29 april 1977 20 | BEMUSE | Nº 19 MUSEINGS. | APR – JUN 2012 | 21

Chang returned to China after only in King Ottokar’s Sceptre . I made Calculus a mi- he completed his studies in in 1939. ni-Piccard, because otherwise 1937. He became the Princi- The only way to distin- I would have needed to enlarge CELEBRATING pal of the Shanghai Fine Arts guish between the two is from the frames.” – hergé Academy and was a celebrated the trim of their moustaches. TINTIN THROUGH sculptor. Thompson’s is neatly trimmed, Calculus’s deafness was mod- The two good friends lost whilst Thomson’s has a dis- elled after Paul Eydt, the law- contact when World War Two tinctive twirl at the ends. yer at Le Petit Vingtième. His STAMPS broke out. The Japanese occu- Both Thompson and deafness was a source of jokes pation of China during the war, Thomson are not very intelli- amongst the editorial team. coupled with the Chinese Cul- gent, and are super clumsy and tural Revolution (1966-1976), confused. They are hence full » ROBERTO separated them for almost of blunders, misunderstand- The Adventures of three decades. Hergé, however, ings, and always in trouble. A dangerous Greek billionaire Tintin in 24 Albums never gave up looking for his One possible inspiration for with the worst morals and taste This 2007 stamp collection issued by the friend. His long quest finally the characters was Hergé‘s in clothing, Rastapopoulos is a Post features the covers of all 24 paid off in 1975, and they kept father, Alexis Remi, and Alexis’ master of evil and the sworn titles of the Tintin series, to- in contact through touching twin brother, Léon. They were enemy of Tintin. gether with a portrait of Hergé. letters. It was not for another identical twins; both had His first appearance was Albums 2 to 9, which were originally in six years before Chang and moustaches, were dressed in Tintin in America in 1932. black and white, were republished in col- Hergé had an emotional reun- alike, wore boater or bowler He crossed paths with Tintin our and in a fixed 62-page format between ion in Brussels in 1981. hats, and held walking canes again in Cigars of the Pharaoh 1943 and 1947, as well as in 1955. Album 10 or umbrellas. Thompson and in 1934, The Blue Lotus in 1935, was the first to be published in colour right » THOMPSON Thomson, however, are not The Red Sea Sharks in 1958, and from the beginning. Albums 16 to 23 (and & THOMSON twins. finally in Flight 714 in 1967. the revised editions of Albums 4, 7 and 15) These two clumsy policemen Hergé could also have been He was modelled after were published with Studios Hergé. first appeared in Cigars of the inspired by movies of that time, the Greek shipping tycoon A shortage of paper during World War Pharaoh in 1932. They were namely the films of Charlie Aristotle Onassis (1906-1975), Two had restricted the to 62 pages then known as X33 and X33A. Chaplin, as well as the come- who made a fortune construct- instead of the 100-130 pages allowed before Their names were revealed dic duo Laurel and Hardy who ing super tankers and became the war. shared similarities in charac- legendary for his wealth and teristics with Thompson and display of it. Thomson. » DR. J.W. MÜLLER » PROFESSOR Violent and dangerous, enter- CUTHBERT CALCULUS prising and unscrupulous, and He is an absolutely deaf and thoroughly evil, Dr Müller’s absent-minded inventor whose personality was based on Dr French name is Tryphon Tour- Georg Bell, a secret agent cum nesol. “Tryphon” is the name forger and a Nazi troublemaker of Hergé’s carpenter and of Scottish descent. “Tourn-esol” means sunflower. Physically, Dr Müller was He was actually modelled based on the British actor after a real person. Charles Laughton who starred in the film The Island of Doc- “Physically, Calculus and tor Moreau (1933). Laughton his submarine were based played the role of a mad genius, on Professor Auguste Pic- a pioneer of genetic modifica- card [1884-1962] and his tion and super surgeon, joining bathyscaphe. He was a scaled animals and humans together down version of Piccard, who to create monstrous hybrids. was much too tall. Piccard Dr Müller made his first had a very long neck. I would appearance in occasionally bump into him in 1938 as an outlaw and a in the street and he struck me master of disguise who often as the incarnation of a typical assumed multiple identities. 22 | BEMUSE | Nº 19 MUSEINGS. | APR – JUN 2012 | 23

The Double-Adventure Sequels The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rack- TINTIN ON THE ham’s Treasure were Hergé’s first attempt at dividing Tintin’s adventures into two BIG SCREEN parts. The double-adventure was such a suc- Tintin comics have been made into movies since 1960, cessful formula that Hergé repeated it in when Tintin first appeared on the big screen in Tintin and four other books. The second double-bill, the Golden Fleece. This was followed by Tintin and the Blue which came right after Red Rackham’s Oranges in 1964. Treasure, spanned The Seven Crystal Balls In 1969, in Brussels produced a feature- and Prisoners of the Sun. The third double- length animated cartoon based on the book Prisoners of the adventure was told in Destination Moon Sun. In 1976, Moi, Tintin, a full-length documentary about and Explorers on the Moon. Tintin and his creator, hit the screens. Hergé had attempted to create a sequel In October 2011, : The Secret of earlier in 1934 when he embarked on Tintin the Unicorn, made its debut as a computer animated 3D movie. in the East in Le Petit Vingtième. But the Directed by , the movie script was based on resulting work, The Blue Lotus, was more of three of the comic stories: The Crab with the Golden Claws, a companion volume rather than a straight The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure. A new sequel to the preceding book, Cigars of the set of stamps was issued by bpost (Belgium Post) on 27 August Pharaoh. 2011 to mark this special occasion.

Lucille Yap is Senior Curator, Singapore Philatelic Museum. Tintin on the Moon “I wanted [one of Hergé’s Hergé’s world was filled with science assistants] … to know exactly whichever and technology. He was an inquisitive part of the space vehicle the characters artist who sought out and interviewed were to be found in. It was essential that numerous scientific experts. The process each detail was in place, that everything reached its peak in Tintin’s adventure to was perfectly exact: the venture was too the Moon. dangerous for me to be involved without Hergé had the ability to weave compli- guarantee.” cated scientific subject matters into truly – hergé remarkable stories. He drew inspiration from the space race between America and Hergé was way ahead of his time. He put the Soviet Union in the 1950s, keeping Tintin on the Moon in 1953, four years close tabs on new developments in rocket ahead of the Soviet Union which launched science. the first, unmanned, Sputnik rocket on 4 To ensure accuracy in his work, Hergé October 1957. And it was not until two dec- made a scale model of the Moon rocket ades later on 20 July 1969 that Neil Arm- to be featured in Destination Moon, and strong from the ’ Apollo XI brought it to for the approval of mission finally landed and set foot on the Professor Alexandre Ananoff, author Moon. As a fitting outcome to this creative of L’astronautique. The model could be undertaking, Tintin became, in the eyes of dismantled to reveal each inner section many, the first man to walk on the Moon! clearly. Upon his return to Brussels, Herge asked his assistants to draw the iconic red “This is it! … I’ve walked a few steps! … For rocket based on his model. the first time in history of mankind there is an Explorer on the Moon!” – tintin declared in 1953, 16 years before neil armstrong’s declaration of “one small step for man, one giant step for mankind.”