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Past in pictures
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French comic book illustrator, Francois Dermaut on why he loves history and the routine
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TALES AND STROKES Francois Dermaut, French comic book illustrator
The routine interests him. “In France, artistes now refuse to create superheroes. They are considered childish,” says Francois Dermaut, the French comic book illustrator who was in the city recently. “I want heroes from everyday.
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Drama leaps from his pages or lurks at its corners, but he likes exploring the doubts of heroes. In France, comics began with superheroes, he says. Then, superheroes were mocked. “Muscular men in lace petticoats or long underwear, baguette tucked under their arms.” Now, when comics have plenty of readers in the country, each artiste can afford to stick to his or her style.
Francois enjoys illustrating historical stories and classics because he “does not like the present.” “We don’t communicate to each other, but we have schools and institutes that teach communication.” And adds, falling resignedly into his chair, “It puzzles me.”
He has been focussing on French and Swiss histories, but is now set to work on stories from Latin American history. He wants his readers to enjoy reading the book and if possible learn something from it.
His first commissioned work was an illustration of Oliver Twist. He worked on it after reading an abridged version of the novel. Which version? He pulls a face. “I don’t remember, there are so many.”
Growing up in Roubaix, a coal mining area in northern France, his father was a “Sunday painter” (an amateur painter). Artistes of different nationalities visited the family, and all children were given freedom that even he does not permit his children. Three of the four children are now artistes. He plans to do a comic on his father — somebody who is poor, but enjoyed life with imagination. “I tell my friends that we should give children the faculty to contemplate, to wonder.”
His 23-year-old daughter is now on a road trip, travelling through 18 countries on a truck. She will sketch the children along the way and later hold an exhibition of her works.
Observation is essential to an illustrator, he says. “You must look around for defining characteristics. You must look for good instants.”
ASHA S. MENON
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