Unseen Drawings by Tove Jansson, Creator of the Moomins, to Feature in London Exhibition

Previously unseen drawings by Tove Jansson, the Finnish artist and writer behind the globally popular Moomin books, will be exhibited in London. The Moomins, described as lovable trolls with hippopotamus snouts who live in harmony with nature, have sold up to 30 million copies since Jansson created and illustrated them between 1945 and 1977.

The exhibition, titled Tove Jansson and her Families, will open at the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration in November, 25 years after Jansson's death. It is billed as the UK’s first exhibition specifically focused on Jansson’s illustrations. The show will include sketches, photographs, films, and personal correspondence with her close relations and fans.

Original artwork from Jansson's debut book, The Moomins and the Great Flood, will be displayed. This book depicted a world of natural harmony and possibility, following Moomintroll and Moominmamma's search for Moominpappa and their journey to Moominvalley.

Jansson's works celebrate nature, friendship, tolerance, and self-acceptance. Translated into over 60 languages, the books have inspired various adaptations, including animated films, television series, and theme parks.

Sophia Jansson, Tove's niece, commented that her aunt possessed a unique ability to address universal and personal themes that resonate with readers. These themes were often subtly woven into the Moomin stories, allowing readers to discover deeper reflections on human interaction and peculiarities beneath the surface narratives.

Among the previously unseen material is a sketch of Moominpappa with a giant shell. This drawing was an early concept for the cover of Moominpappa at Sea, a story about the Moomin family relocating to a remote island. Sophia Jansson, who chairs the Moomins Characters brand, noted that Jansson was highly prolific, and new material continues to surface.

Regarding the exhibition's focus, Sophia confirmed that previous London exhibitions, like the one at Dulwich Picture Gallery in 2017, primarily showcased Jansson's paintings, making this the first dedicated to her illustrations.

Paul Gravett, a Jansson expert and guest curator for the exhibition, highlighted the enduring relevance of Jansson's prose novels, citing the diverse characters and themes of acceptance and tolerance. He stated that the books celebrate eccentricity and embracing life's flow, contributing to their appeal for both children and adults due to their inherent depth.

Gravett mentioned that the draft book cover featuring Moominpappa with the shell is as compelling as the final published version.

Jansson's early creative talent was evident even at age seven, when she wrote and illustrated homemade booklets sold to classmates. These early drawings, which will be part of the exhibition, reveal an early fascination with fantasy and dreams stemming from her childhood reading.

This passion for fantasy literature influenced her later work. She illustrated Swedish editions of Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark and Alice in Wonderland in a darker style. For JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit, she depicted Gollum as significantly larger than described, a portrayal that surprised Tolkien himself, leading him to amend the second edition to describe Gollum as a "small, slimy creature." The first English edition featuring Jansson's illustrations for The Hobbit is scheduled for publication this month by HarperCollins.

Jansson was also a vocal political cartoonist, notably criticizing fascism during World War II. She once expressed satisfaction in being able to "beast(ly) to Hitler and Stalin." One of her cartoons depicted a toy doll with the caption: "'No, little friend, our new stock says ‘Heil Hitler!’" reflecting her critical stance.

Jansson had a significant connection with London. In 1954, her first Moomin comic strip began publication in London's Evening News, a notable achievement for a female cartoonist at the time. Her Moomin comic strips were distributed internationally.

The exhibition will include a sketch for one of the earliest Moomin comic strips. Gravett shared that this particular sketch, covered in coffee stains and nearly discarded, was saved by a fellow cartoonist, calling its survival a "miracle."

Gravett is currently working on a book about Jansson, following his 2022 study on her illustration work.

English Translation:

Previously unseen drawings by Tove Jansson, the Finnish artist and writer behind the globally popular Moomin books, will be exhibited in London. The Moomins, described as lovable trolls with hippopotamus snouts who live in harmony with nature, have sold up to 30 million copies since Jansson created and illustrated them between 1945 and 1977.

The exhibition, titled Tove Jansson and her Families, will open at the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration in November, 25 years after Jansson's death. It is billed as the UK’s first exhibition specifically focused on Jansson’s illustrations. The show will include sketches, photographs, films, and personal correspondence with her close relations and fans.

Original artwork from Jansson's debut book, The Moomins and the Great Flood, will be displayed. This book depicted a world of natural harmony and possibility, following Moomintroll and Moominmamma's search for Moominpappa and their journey to Moominvalley.

Jansson's works celebrate nature, friendship, tolerance, and self-acceptance. Translated into over 60 languages, the books have inspired various adaptations, including animated films, television series, and theme parks.

Sophia Jansson, Tove's niece, commented that her aunt possessed a unique ability to address universal and personal themes that resonate with readers. These themes were often subtly woven into the Moomin stories, allowing readers to discover deeper reflections on human interaction and peculiarities beneath the surface narratives.

Among the previously unseen material is a sketch of Moominpappa with a giant shell. This drawing was an early concept for the cover of Moominpappa at Sea, a story about the Moomin family relocating to a remote island. Sophia Jansson, who chairs the Moomins Characters brand, noted that Jansson was highly prolific, and new material continues to surface.

Regarding the exhibition's focus, Sophia confirmed that previous London exhibitions, like the one at Dulwich Picture Gallery in 2017, primarily showcased Jansson's paintings, making this the first dedicated to her illustrations.

Paul Gravett, a Jansson expert and guest curator for the exhibition, highlighted the enduring relevance of Jansson's prose novels, citing the diverse characters and themes of acceptance and tolerance. He stated that the books celebrate eccentricity and embracing life's flow, contributing to their appeal for both children and adults due to their inherent depth.

Gravett mentioned that the draft book cover featuring Moominpappa with the shell is as compelling as the final published version.

Jansson's early creative talent was evident even at age seven, when she wrote and illustrated homemade booklets sold to classmates. These early drawings, which will be part of the exhibition, reveal an early fascination with fantasy and dreams stemming from her childhood reading.

This passion for fantasy literature influenced her later work. She illustrated Swedish editions of Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark and Alice in Wonderland in a darker style. For JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit, she depicted Gollum as significantly larger than described, a portrayal that surprised Tolkien himself, leading him to amend the second edition to describe Gollum as a "small, slimy creature." The first English edition featuring Jansson's illustrations for The Hobbit is scheduled for publication this month by HarperCollins.

Jansson was also a vocal political cartoonist, notably criticizing fascism during World War II. She once expressed satisfaction in being able to "beast(ly) to Hitler and Stalin." One of her cartoons depicted a toy doll with the caption: "'No, little friend, our new stock says ‘Heil Hitler!’" reflecting her critical stance.

Jansson had a significant connection with London. In 1954, her first Moomin comic strip began publication in London's Evening News, a notable achievement for a female cartoonist at the time. Her Moomin comic strips were distributed internationally.

The exhibition will include a sketch for one of the earliest Moomin comic strips. Gravett shared that this particular sketch, covered in coffee stains and nearly discarded, was saved by a fellow cartoonist, calling its survival a "miracle."

Gravett is currently working on a book about Jansson, following his 2022 study on her illustration work.