Wilhelm Busch

In 1865, a mischievous pair of boys named Max and Moritz leapt from the mind of Wilhelm Busch and into picture book history and laying the groundwork for modern comics. Busch, a German artist with an eye for satire and an innovative approach to visual storytelling that incorporated text and illustration as one, would go on to influence generations of artists and writers, from the creators of newspaper comic strips to the masterminds behind today's graphic novels and picture books.

The German artist Wilhelm Busch is regarded as one of the founders of modern comics and an undeniable influence on picture books. He pioneered several elements that have become staples of the medium today, such as onomatopoeia and movement lines. Wilhelm Busch was born into a family of modest means in the small village of Wiedensahl, Germany in 1832. He was the oldest of seven children born to Henriette and Friedrich Wilhelm Busch.

ArtBlog, Bio Wilhelm Busch

Britannica, Wilhelm Busch

Famous for mischievous characters, Busch described himself as a sensitive and shy child. At nine, his family moved to Ebergötzen, where he formed a close friendship with Erich Bachmann (who later influenced his renowned work "Max and Moritz") and began his first drawing exercises. At 15, Busch began studying mechanical engineering in Hanover in 1847. Yet, in 1851, just a few months before completing his studies, he abandoned them to pursue lithography in Düsseldorf. A year later, he moved to Antwerp, Belgium, where he joined the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. However, he had to return home to Wiedensahl because of money problems and illness (typhus) in 1853. During his time in Antwerp, he had the chance to study the works of Flemish classical painters, such as Frans Hals, Adriaen Brouwer, David Teniers, and Peter Paul Rubens.

A Great Struggle

While Busch was at home, he moved in with his uncle in Luthtorst, where he struggled with disease for five months. In those five months, he spent his time painting and collecting folk tales, legends, ballads, rhymes, and superstitions. Busch lived with his uncle at that time and expressed an interest in restarting his studies in Munich. This interest caused a rift between him and his father, but his father eventually paid for the move. It was 1854 when Busch moved to Munich to attend the Munich Academy of Fine Arts. His expectations were not met at the academy, and life became aimless for Busch. He would occasionally return to Luthtorst, but contact with his parents had been cut off. Two years passed and Busch was contemplating moving to Brazil to care for bees when he undertook a study in Brannenburg. Here he began to provide contributions to the local newspaper, Jung München. A few years later Busch met several artists with connections to magazines (Münchener Bilderbogen and Fliegende Blätter), and thanks to those connections he began publishing satirical cartoons and caricatures. Busch was breathing new life into his drawings. During this period of time Busch's style was becoming more fluid and his storytelling more satirical. His predecessors mostly drew characters frozen in one stiff pose, but Busch could suggest movement with just a few added lines.

In 1865, he began drawing picture stories with characters 'Max and Moritz', two mischievous boys. After an initial rejection from one publisher to publish Max and Moritz, Busch was able to agree to terms with Kaspar Braun. Even though the characters appeared in only one story, 'Max und Moritz' was a smash success. At first, sales were slow, but after the release of the second edition, sales improved. By 1908, there were 56 editions and nearly half a million copies sold of Max and Moritz. Their adventures entertained audiences in the German-speaking world. People still read them to children today. Many parents, at the time, even named their twin sons after the characters. Lauded for its innovative blend of text and image, Max and Moritz captured the public's imagination. Max and Moritz is a seminal work in the history of comics and children's literature. The stories showcased Busch's skill at storytelling and his keen observations of people and society. The book's dark humor and moral lessons resonated deeply with readers, solidifying Busch's reputation as a master satirist. Even today, "Max und Moritz" remains a classic. It has been translated into many languages and has influenced countless artists and writers worldwide.

Wilhelm Busch, Timeline

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Lambiek, Busch

The Katzenjammer Heist

Max and Moritz was such a huge success it led to many imitations and ripoffs. Their antics were translated into over 30 languages. They were the first foreign children's book imported and published in Japan in 1887. The series also had a profound impact on gag comics featuring naughty children. Busch can be credited with practically inventing and popularizing the genre. The most famous and blatant example is Rudolph Dirks' 'Katzenjammer Kids' (1897-2006). Its titular characters closely resembled Busch's creations in design and personality, and they even had German accents.

Comic strips were gaining popularity in American newspapers at that time. The Sunday edition of the New York Journal first published The Katzenjammer Kids in 1897. Media mogul William Randolph Hearst commissioned the series to boost his newspaper's circulation. He reportedly requested "something like Max and Moritz" for his publication.

Dirks followed the instructions literally. He drew inspiration from Wilhelm Busch's characters. He used them to create the mischievous twins, Hans and Fritz.

Such a direct borrowing would be blatant plagiarism today. All this occurred during Wilhelm Busch's lifetime. He never sued the publication. Martin Jurgeit suggests this was because Busch didn't keep the rights to "Max and Moritz". He had given them to his publisher Kaspar Braun. But, Busch's letters show that he knew of the comics in the US, as noted by biographer Eva Weissweiler:

The Katzenjammer Kids became the longest-running comic strip. It influenced many modern comics and artists such as Beetle Bailey, Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, and even Picasso.

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Toonsmag, History of the Katzenjammer Kids

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A Modern Legacy

Busch continued his work on picture stories, but none were as popular as Max and Moritz. A few such as Tobias Knopp and The Unlucky Raven did find audiences and continued to influence artists beyond Busch's time.

Busch wasn't only a graphical artist, he spent time writing poetry and plays and was a collector of folk tales. Busch was always more inclined to discuss his poetry and playwriting, as opposed to his graphical work. He considered them far better than his comics and pictorial stories. He viewed them as simple kids' entertainment. They were valuable only because people wanted them. He achieved such fame that in 1886, he became the first comic artist to have a biography ('Über Wilhelm Busch und seine Bedeutung'-'About Wilhelm Busch and His Importance') published about him while still alive. He thought the biography was good. But, he still felt it needed some clarifications. So, he became the first comic artist in history to publish an autobiography.

In 1908, Wilhelm Busch passed away after battling alcoholism for many decades.

Luiker Waal, Wilhelm Busch

Inspiring Walt Disney

Lambiek, Disney

Wilhelm Busch's legacy extends beyond his famous creation of Max and Moritz, leaving an undeniable mark on picture books, comics, and modern culture. His innovative approach to visual storytelling revolutionized the way stories could be told and paved the way for the modern picture book as we know it today. Prior to Busch, illustrations in children's books were often stiff, lifeless, and separate from the text. Busch, however, breathed life into his characters with expressive lines and integrated the text with the images to create a cohesive, engaging narrative experience for young readers.

Busch's dynamic illustrations, combined with his use of onomatopoeia and other visual storytelling techniques, set a new standard for children's books and comics alike. His work demonstrated the power of intertwining words and pictures to captivate readers and convey meaning in a way that had rarely been seen before. This seamless integration of text and illustration became a hallmark of both the picture book genre and comic art, influencing countless artists and authors in the decades that followed.

The impact of Busch's innovations can still be seen in children's literature and popular culture today. The expressive characters and clever interplay of words and images that have become a hallmark of many modern picture books owe a debt to Busch's groundbreaking work. His influence even extends to the world of animation, with renowned animator Walt Disney drawing direct inspiration from Busch's storytelling techniques. According to the book "Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts" by Wolf Burchard, Disney kept copies of Busch's books in his library, indicating that the German artist's work had a significant impact on Disney's own creative process.

Busch's unique blend of humor, visual narrative, and moral lessons not only entertained generations of children but also expanded the possibilities of what a children's book and comic could be. His use of satire and dark humor in picture books was unconventional for the times, but it resonated with readers and set a precedent for future artists to push the boundaries of the medium.

Remarkably, Busch's influence has come full circle in recent years, with the growing trend of graphic novels as children's books. Popular series such as Cat in Space, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man, and Baloney and Friends have embraced the comic book format, combining engaging illustrations with witty, relatable storytelling to capture the hearts and imaginations of young readers. These modern works carry on Busch's legacy of blending words and pictures to create compelling narratives that resonate with children, just as Max and Moritz did over 150 years ago.

In the end, Wilhelm Busch's greatest contribution to children's literature and comic art was not just the memorable characters he created, but the new language of visual storytelling he pioneered. By showing the world how words and pictures could work together to bring stories to life, Busch laid the foundation for the vibrant, diverse world of children's picture books and comics we have today. His influence can be seen in every beautifully illustrated, cleverly told story that captures a reader's imagination and sparks a lifelong love of these art forms.

Max & Moritz

Artwork with Original Text and Translation