| Title | : | Tove Jansson (The Illustrators) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0500094330 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780500094334 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 112 |
| Publication | : | First published October 6, 2022 |
Born in Helsinki among Finland’s Swedish-speaking minority, Jansson was brought up with a love for making art and stories in a supportive, artistic family. Her first illustrated tales were published when she was fourteen years old and she went on to draw humorous and political cartoons as well as striking front covers for the satirical magazine Garm, in response to events in World War II. As she developed from art student to painter and muralist, and from bohemian to lesbian, she also created her Moomin world, which appeared in her first children’s book in 1945 and then in newspaper strips. Beyond this imaginative achievement, Jansson also wrote many novels, documented here along with personal commentaries from her own writings.
A title in The Illustrators series, which celebrates illustration as an art form, Tove Jansson offers a visually rich view into the life and work of this much-loved artist and writer.
Tove Jansson (The Illustrators) Reviews
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A delight to find out more about a favourite author.
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Чудова!
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Hea tasakaal eluloo ja loomingu vahel. Tekst kohati pisut kohmakas küll, aga uued teadmised ja ilusad illustratsioonid korvasid selle üsna kiirelt.
Näitasin raamatut ka 5-aastasele õelapsele, kellel oli põnev pilte vaadata ja neilt muumitrolli otsida. Teos tituleeriti kohe uueks Muumiraamatuks. -
Yesterday I had the pleasure of finishing this gorgeous book chronicling a life's work of (who is perhaps) Finland's most famous daughter, Tove Jansson. Already familiar with the series thanks to very thoughtful gifts from my lovely friend, Sacha, stumbling upon the Jansson title in the month we travel to Finland felt like perfect timing. Along with many people in both Europe and globally, I was familiar with Jansson's work solely through the beloved Finn Family Moomin whose images and stories I've always held an affinity for.
The book documents her early life and inspirations growing up in a family of two artist parents (an illustrator and sculptor, respectively) through to her final years and the unprecedented output she created in the years between. It was wonderful to learn more about the early years of the Moomins as a years-long comic strip along with her diverse portfolio of commercial and personal work (notably, what an impressive portraiture artist and painter she was... along with anything and everything she seemingly put her hand to). The book is also a life-affirming and warming account of life as a bohemian member of the LGBT at a time where same-sex relationships, even in progressive Suomi, was at best taboo, and worst, illegal... and yet she lived life on her terms anyway.
Not only had the book further fuelled my anticipation for our end-of-the-month trip, but also to read some of Jansson's translated works aimed at adult readers, with 'The Summer Book' the first on my list. -
Utrolig fin bok om Tove Janssons arbeid som illustratør! Noen av bildene hadde jeg heller ikke sett før, morro å oppdage «ny» kunst fra en kunstner man liker godt
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A very handsome naked hardback, the latest edition in W. W. Norton’s Illustrators series spotlights the work of Finnish author and artist Tove Jansson, the creator of the famous Moomin series, which were released across many incarnations from 1945 until the late 90s.
Jansson’s genius has more than stood the test of time. Even now, her works and particularly her fictional round, white, vaguely hippopotamus-resembling creatures— the eponymous “Moomins”—continue to win over people from all generations. Some may find the comforting cottage-core vibes of her stories especially fitting in a post-Covid era, in which there are no short of reasons to feel depressed about the state of our world. Jansson herself conceived of her iconic “moomintrolls'’ from a very tumultuous and difficult time in history. Indeed, her work very much represented a kind of escapism through a fantastical conception of simple, pastoral life. However, Jansson’s escapist fiction is deeply refreshing, even in today’s standards, because of its uncondescending and non didactic tone. While her books are fantastical and whimsical in nature, difficult themes such as identity, philosophy, cultural differences, grief are treated in nuanced and mature ways — which incidentally explains why the Moomin stories lend themselves well as rereads and are extremely popular with older readers.
In a compact and remarkably well-edited form, The Illustrators Series: Tove Jansson is a great summary of Jansson’s formidable legacy. It provides an accessible throughline into her many careers, from a young political graphic illustrator to a seasoned cartoonist and successful author. As a lesbian artist from a Finnish-Swedish minority coming up in a politically fraught Europe, Jansson nonetheless carved out a long, storied career for herself out of sheer dedication and passion— evidenced clearly throughout this entire book.
Rare in biographical art books is an actually compelling adjoining text that can measure up with its visual reproductions; thankfully, Paul Gravett’s comments are sharply observed and often posits intelligent and thought-provoking analogies. He provides just enough biographical elements to situatiate readers historically without losing focus on the actual art itself.
The book spotlights, above everything, Jansson’s versatility and meticulous approach to art as well as the distinctive visual style for which she is famous. It spoils readers with pages and pages of a delightfully eclectic selection of her artwork ranging across multiple mediums and stages of completion. Anyone who is coming into this book with only a bare knowledge of Jansson’s iconic Moomin drawings will surely appreciate this diversity.
The art pieces themselves are replicated in marvelous quality; you are able to actually read some notes in English sprinkled on the margins of certain sketches, carefully penciled from Jansson’s gentle and stylized handwriting— a charming and endearing detail.
Reading this book felt like walking through a well-curated museum exhibition, accompanied by a friendly, discerning guide— no doubt exactly what the Illustrators series editors were aiming for. Of course, this is mandatory reading for all Jansson fans, and will assuredly take up a treasured space on your bookshelves. -
a woman, a feminist, a lesbian, an anti-nazi artist, a novelist, a painter, …
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Great summary of Tove Jannson’s life and work. Tons of great visuals throughout the whole book and was a nice quick read. I learned a ton about her life and work that I didn’t know before. Would have been cool to have a section at the end about her legacy and things like the Moomin TV shows, Arabia mugs, etc. Things that have been wickedly popular and carry on her art, imagination, and philosophy, although she didn’t directly work on and complete them.
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Frekar stutt bók sem rekur feril Tove í gegnum verk hennar. Passar vel við myndina Tove sem fjallar meira um persónuleg sambönd hennar.
Kom mest á óvart hvað hún var ung þegar hún byrjaði að teikna teiknimyndasögur og kápur fyrir tímarit. Líka forvitnilegt að sjá myndskreytingar hennar utan múmínálfana.
Hefði viljað fá meiri texta um hvert verk og enn fleiri myndir þó þar séu þegar töluvert margar. -
This is a good edition to the genre of Moomin/Tove. It's biographical, illustrated, and not too in-depth. I would call it an introduction to the life of Tove and her family. So while you get to meet her brothers and mother, you don't get to find out that she was an Aunt to more than Sophia. Still, it is a beautiful edition and worth having.
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A wonderfully curated book combining dozens of Tove Jansson’s artworks (that I’d never seen before) and detailed information about Tove and her life. There’s always more to learn about the Moomins and their creator!
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Far more than just a coffee table book. Full of hard to find illustrations and a detailed inventory of Tove's life and career. I found the commentary engaging and actually quite moving, as well as informative. Obviously a book made with a lot of love and respect for Tove and her works.
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Loved it! Neat little transportation through the life of Tove Jansson and a reminder that her talent an artistic life was not limited to just the Moomins she is remembered for. Truly a wonderful woman to read about, but I wish the book was longer!
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Mõnus, paljude ilusate piltidega, kokkuvõtlik ja kiire lugemine. Sain nii mõndagi uut teada, mida ma Tove Janssoni ja ta raamatute kohta enne ei teadnud. Näiteks, et "Suveraamatu" tegelasteks olid tema ema ja vennatütar jne.
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Moomin 4ever! A great little biography of the incredibly creative and hard-working Tove Jansson.
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A lovely insight into a fantastic woman.
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Beautiful book just asking to be picked up at the library. I find Tove Jansson fascinating and her short novels so poignant. This is a great biography with many sketches, photos and artifacts.
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Harmillisesti ei tarjonnut itselle mitään uutta. Jäin kaipaamaan erityisesti lehtikuvitusten ja pilapiirrosten tarkempaa käsittelyä, mutta sitä ja monia muita aiheita vain raapaistiin pinnalta.
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My daughter loves the Moomins. To learn more about Tove, who’s characters bring her such joy, was really captivating.
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És la millor
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(Läst på svenska)
Intressant inblick i Tove Janssons liv som illustratör. Tyvärr inte särskilt ingående, men tyckte om det stora antalet bilder och illustrationer som följde med texten. -
This book is a beautiful biography about Tove Jansson with some amazing ilustrations. I really enjoyed look at the sketches of the moomins.
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Ravie d'en avoir appris un peu plus sur cette autrice que j'adore. J'aimerais tellement qu'une édition en français du Hobbit utilise les illustrations qu'elle a crées pour les éditions finlandaises
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Originalt om Tove Jansson - anbefales!
https://tinesundal.blogspot.com/2023/... -
Très sympa, on en apprend bcp sur Tove Jansson et son art, ses débuts, etc. On apprend à quel point être lesbienne, dans un pays qui dit que l'homosexualité est une maladie jusqu'en 1981, est difficile. On voit l'évolution des moomin à travers le temps, c'est fou de se dire que les moomins c'est pas si récent que ça ! Elle a un style incroyable avec une carrière folle, je recommande ce livre. L'édition française que j'ai lu à une couverture rouge avec 2 moomins au centre et Tove Jansson écrit en gros !
Tove Jansson, les illustrateurs de Paul Gravett.
