When was Hergé born and where did he grow up?
Georges Remi was born on the 22nd of May 1907 in Etterbeek, a suburb of Brussels. He grew up in a lower-middle-class family house that was later renamed 33 rue Philippe Baucq.
Questions about Hergé
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the political nature of Hergé's early Tintin stories?
Hergé launched The Adventures of Tintin in the Land of the Soviets in 1929 as conservative propaganda for children under the direction of Abbé Norbert Wallez. Early stories like Tintin in the Congo were designed to encourage colonial sentiment and depicted Congolese people as childlike idiots in a paternalistic style.
How did Hergé change his political and artistic outlook in 1934?
The serialization of The Blue Lotus in 1934 marked a dramatic shift in Hergé's career after he was influenced by his friend Zhang Chongren. He rejected his classically right-wing ideas to embrace an anti-imperialist stance and developed a largely realistic portrayal of China.
Why was Hergé arrested in 1944 and what were the consequences?
Hergé was arrested on the 3rd of September 1944 after being named as a collaborator in a Resistance document known as the Gallery of Traitors. He spent one night in jail and faced accusations of being a traitor for years, although no formal charges were brought against him.
When did Hergé die and what was his final health condition?
Hergé died at Saint-Luc hospital on the 3rd of March 1983 at the age of 75 after suffering cardiac arrest. His health had been declining since 1979 when he was diagnosed with osteomyelofibrosis, requiring frequent blood transfusions.
When was the Hergé Museum established and what does it contain?
A Hergé Museum was established in Louvain-la-Neuve in 2009 to display original artwork by Hergé. The museum contains eight permanent galleries that tell the story of his life and career which had not previously been visible to the public.