53 - Schwartz

Schwartz OLIVIER SCHWARTZ AN ADVENTURE OF SPIROU AND FANTASIO The Leopard Woman (Vol. 7), Dupuis 2014 Original illustration for the endpapers of the deluxe edition. Signed. India ink on paper 57 × 37.5 cm (22.44 × 14.76 in.) The artist presents us with a vision of a Brussels heavily damaged by war. Everything appears dilapidated: the roof tiles, the gutters, the chimneys, the windows, and even the courthouse in the upper right corner of the image. The lighter inking in the lower portion of the image accentuates the anxiety-inducing atmosphere, as does Spirou’s worried expression, here in a nearly desperate situation alongside the lifeless Léopard. It’s also worth noting that the various overlapping and highly contrasting roof planes create a sense of depth. The hostile robots are depicted in shadow, in contrast to the heroes, who are bathed in light. And the beam emanating from the first gorilla’s head falls upon its prey like a spotlight on actors on a theater stage, which heightens the drama of the scene. “Every time I was invited to Brussels, I would see through my window some truly astonishing rooftops—all different, with a very eclectic architectural style. I really loved that view. And I placed the courthouse here because it’s a landmark. It’s a bit like the Eiffel Tower for the Belgians.” O.S.