The terms "Marcinelle school" () 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.
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.
Style
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.
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.
+ École de Marcinelle Illustrator WorkPrecursors Robert Velter Spirou Fernand Dineur Tif et TonduInitiator Jijé Spirou & Fantasio, Blondin et Cirage1st Generation (40s) André Franquin Spirou & Fantasio, Gaston, Marsupilami, Modeste et Pompon, Franquin's Last Laugh Morris Lucky Luke, Rantanplan Will Tif et Tondu, Isabelle2nd 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-Noire3rd 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
External links Dupuis page on Jijé discussing the core group and characteristics of the Marcinelle school