Moomin Illustrated


Despite being Finnish, I've never actually read the Moomin books. Sure, I've seen the cartoon series, but the books are a mystery to me. I didn't even know there are so many of them: 20 in total.

To remedy this I went to the Moomin museum in Tampere. The security around the museum seemed unusually strict, and taking photos was prohibited for copyright reasons.

I feel the museum is actually more of an art gallery than a museum. It's chock full of beautiful (but mostly tiny) illustrations. Tove Jansson's main work medium was ink on paper over a pencil sketch. The illustrations are extremely detailed, and she knows how to bring out the light and shadow using only a black marker pen. Her illustration style brings to mind the old school botanical illustrations in the sense that she uses numerous thin lines to shade and even to suggest forms and textures, such as mist, clouds or water.

There are also pieces on display by Tuulikki Pietilä - a graphic designer and Tove Jansson's partner. She brought Moomins to the third dimension with her finely crafted miniatures, which depict scenes from the books.

There's some similarities with Jansson's style and van Gogh's The Starry Night. The way they both represent the night sky seem very similar. Take a look at the mesmerising whirlpools of light and dark.
Source: Pinterest

Source: Wikipedia
Source: Muumimuseo
Source: Pinterest

Kommentit

  1. Helsinki Urban Rats11. syyskuuta 2018 klo 4.18

    Very cool! I need Moomins in my life. I have seen some drawings and comics but never could understand a word, and the meaning of it... Perhaps you can help me ^^

    VastaaPoista
  2. Unknown13. syyskuuta 2018 klo 5.53

    I can dig it. Moomins definitely seem to be a big part of Finnish culture, I hear my wife make some mention of them at least once a week. Seems they are the Finnish version of Peanuts, i.e., Charlie Brown and Snoopy for Americans.

    I can definitely see what you mean with the style used in capturing of the night sky and shadows. Reminds me of visual snow/static that the eye captures in a dark room.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_snow

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Unknown13. syyskuuta 2018 klo 5.55

      Don't know why it posted unknown. Just verifying it was me.

      Poista

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