JEAN DE BRUNHOFF
French author and illustrator (1899-1937)
Biography:
Jean de Brunhoff is known all thorughout the world for being the creator of Babar, which first appeared in 1931. This creation marks a turning point in the history of children's illustrated books. It represents the beginning of the modern album. After its first appearance, 5 more titles followed authored by Jean de Burnhoff.
After his death, Hachette bought the printing and publishing rights and his son, Laurent de Brunhoff, took his pen. The first seven albums were reprinted and millions of copies were sold all around the world, but they were all abridged, for they had 30 pages instead of its original 48.
Babar's author:
Babar is the product of a family story: Laurent de Burnhoff explains that one evening, his mother told him a story about an elephant who runs away from a hunter and arrives in a little village. Then Jean de Burnhoff decides to illustrate himself this story.
The origins of the book are, then, the dialogues between children and parents. The privatness of the relationship stands for the anthropomorphic representation of Babar.
When Jean de Burnhoff saw that the story of the elephant needed to be continued, he decided to send his character on a voyage to the center of the Earth, following Jules Verne's tradition.
Thus, Babar's adventures are deeply-rooted in two different realities: the private and personal live of the author and the literary tradition of his country.
Critical analysis on Jean de Burnhoff:
E. François, Un pseudo-naïf : Jean de Brunhoff, Futuropolis, 1987.
N. Fox Weber, L'Art de Babar : l'oeuvre de Jean et de Laurent de Brunhoff, Nathan, 1989.