Friday, March 25, 2011

Philippe Debongnie covers Tintin et les Picaros

























Original cover by Hergé; Casterman 1976. Philippe Debongnie's website is here.

7 comments:

  1. This is a very unusual technique. The figures seem to have been traced? The foliage is created from cutouts of pre-renaissance painting? Hieronymus Bosch? Whatever. This is not your average Covered cover.
    The technique changes the meaning without changing the composition. Pretty interesting stuff, really.
    Comments? Anybody?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good point Anonymous :-)

    There is some Bosch in the cut-out. There are also James Ensor and Hans Memling (all three Belgian - or Dutch - painters). With those images, I do indeed try to give another reading to a cover many people know or have seen before.

    Trying to make it intriguing again, yet highly recognizable, hence the same figures, the same composition but a lot of white space around them and some very abstract cut-out shapes.

    It is mostly an experiment and I am very glad Robert Goodin gives me a place to get it seen - and criticized.

    ReplyDelete
  3. wow, this is somewhat like the weird dreams i have :) very nice! can we see more? I am certainly visiting your website sir.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ps. i enjoy the little paint area where their heads used to be

    ReplyDelete
  5. By referencing the paintings spiritual nature and removing other context, you change the character's physical danger into a more existential threat.

    Just like a Belgian... ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I hadn't put it into words like that but it is a good way to put it. I like to think it gives more space for interpretation to the viewer.

    Good point again anonymous.

    ReplyDelete