GEORGES REMI DIT HERGÉ (1907-1983) - Lot 113

Lot 113
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80000 - 120000 EUR
GEORGES REMI DIT HERGÉ (1907-1983) - Lot 113
GEORGES REMI DIT HERGÉ (1907-1983) "Bonjour Monsieur le libraire" (Hello, Mr. Bookseller) Original drawing and coloring for the "Bonjour, Monsieur le libraire!" advertising flyer. October 1945 The set includes two drawings, one black and white and one color. H 35.5 x W 25.5 cm black and white line H 25.5 x W 18.5 cm gouache drawing Pieces framed with the cover of Hergé Studios' magazine n°4. A certificate from the Comité d'authentification des oeuvres d'Hergé will be given to the buyer. Indian ink drawing and coloring by Hergé, October 1945. This is one of the rare items that predates the creation of the Hergé studios in 1950, and for which we have the direct testimony of the author himself attesting that these documents (drawing + coloring) are in his hand. The history of these drawings reflects all the difficulties and sufferings encountered by Hergé during the war period, the real golden age of Tintin's adventures. In fact, the project was conceived in November 1943... but it would not see the light of day until the spring of 1947, after numerous exchanges and correspondence with Casterman attesting to the pressure Hergé was under. An edifying example of this painful birth can be found in a letter from Hergé to Charles Lesne dated October 22, 1945 (as Lesne asked him to start all over again in order to incorporate the new album 7 boules de Cristal): "Advertising drawings. I've saved that for the end, because right now, I've got a lot on my plate... I finished coloring these drawings last week, and handed them over to Bindels (the photoengraver). The drawings and coloring took me two months to complete (just think, for example, that I had to draw no less than three sets of model covers, some of them in perspective).And now you're asking me to start all over again! Because that's what it's all about: it's totally impossible to incorporate a new cover design (assuming it's already been done, which it isn't) into the existing designs. The only design where this is possible is the poster design. But even there, we'd have to start the coloring all over again. We know from correspondence from this wartime period just how much importance Hergé attached to the smallest of materials, and how much he personally invested in both inking and coloring. Once again, we have indisputable proof of this. It's worth noting that this "Bonjour, Monsieur le libraire" leaflet was accompanied throughout the process by the "Tintin porte une pile d'albums" poster. And, as everything was conceived in 1943, this material, finally released in 1947, still included the covers of the 2 large unpublished images long since disappeared from booksellers' shelves.... Perfect condition. A museum piece from the war period, the golden age of Tintin's adventures, documented and attested by multiple correspondences between Casterman and its author. Our thanks to Marcel Wilmet for his meticulous work on Bonjour monsieur le libraire.
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