This museum is very well organised and presents the microcosmos created by Hergé through a series of drawings, photos and videos, all projected into a chronicle of the 20th century.
First of all, the visit gives insight into the life and career of Hergé. A childhood spent mostly in Belgium created a thirst for travelling that Hergé passed on to his creation. Coming from a bourgeois environment, the first albums tended to repeat national stereotypes, but as Hergé became a seasoned traveler himself, Tintin’s view of the world became more nuanced.With Tintin, Hergé also helped to create the ninth art form, the comic book, which was in full development around the mid of last century. The expression of movement and emotion in comic books was one of the major contributions of Hergé.
Hergé did not work alone, but was surrounded by a team of professionals. Creating an album that withstands the test of time requires attention to detail. Doing this 23 times is no minor feat. Hergé’s team included major comic book artists such as Edgar Jacobs and Bob De Moor, who later created their own series.
There are 227 other characters in Tintin, each with a carefully selected name and personality. Many of these have there own spotlight in the museum, such as Captain Haddock, the Thom(p)sons and Professor Calculus.
In short, this is a well organised museum, hosted in an award-winning architectural setting. The visit with audio guide is user-friendly and very good value for money. You can easily spend a few hours here. To finish your visit, there are good facilities, such as a museum shop, a spacious lobby where you can take a rest, or a restaurant. An absolute must for comic book fans.
More reviews on this museum:
- Excellent review & pictures at Wayfaring travel guide
- A few pictures to give an impression of the architectural setting
- Musée Hergé - It's More Than Tintin
PS - a new Tintin movie by Steven Spielberg will be launched this autumn. The Belgian release is also the world premiere on October 26, 2011.
PS2 - on a fine day, you can conclude your visit by having a drink or meal on the Grand Place which is just a short walk from the musem.
