Ligne+Claire

=Ligne Claire (Clear-Line Technique)=

Influence in the World of Comics
The ligne claire or (clear-line) technique was a popular drawing style of the 20th century and was introduced by Georges Remi - better known as Hergé. However the term was popularized by a Dutch comic writer by the name Joost Swarte, in 1977. This drawing style involves the use of strong clear lines that carry similar levels of importance and thickness. The clear line technique also involves the use of striking colours in mixture with cartoonish, or iconic characters drawn against realistic backgrounds, thus making a sub-catagory of the clear line technique. In turn, shadows do not play a significant part in this drawing technique. Ultimately, the use of thick black lines to draw the characters in a story became very popular. The most incendiary example of this technique can be observed in Hergé's wildly popular and classic series "//The Adventures of Tintin//". And before long, it was adopted by other French-speaking comic artists. Indeed, "Hergé taught many of the artists in the style of ligne claire, urging them to simplify not only the art, but also the story. The artists who worked with him on the Tintin magazine would later be known as the //Brussels school//: Edgar P. Jacobs, Bob de Moor, Roger LeLoup, Willy Vandersteen and Jacques Martin."(Pleban) And so under the influence of the master himself, the ligne claire style single-handedly represented the Franco-Belgian comic art scene by the 1950's.

After the 1950's popularity of the clear line technique waned considerably, deemed old-fashioned by comic writers. Nevertheless, its re-emergence took place in the 1970's thanks to various Dutch artists such as Theo Van Den Boogart and Joost Swarte who again adopted this stylistic method for their visual expression.

Impact on the World of Art
Interestingly, Hergé's linge claire had a major impact on American Art and the Pop Art movement. Many artists were advocates of drawings that portrayed similar levels on emphasis throughout; drawings that where deceptively simple and striking. Art legend Andy Warhol once cited that Hergé's style inspired his development as an artist. "Hergé influenced my work as much as Disney." Additionally, Roy Lichtenstein also found inspiration in Hergé's work, going so far as to blowing up comic book images in order to reveal the dots and lines that made up the image.