Karl Meersman

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Karl Meersman

Born September 14, 1961(1961-09-14)
Temse
Nationality Belgian
Field caricature, editorial cartoon, illustrator
Training Art history, graphic design, printmaking, publicity, figure drawing

Karl Meersman (b. 1961) is a Belgian editorial cartoonist, living in Sint-Niklaas. He is known for his weekly caricatures in the popular magazines Trends and Knack. Since 2004, Meersman lives with former VRT journalist Lies Martens.[1]

Meersman's art has been widely lauded in the press, in the art world, and in politics.[2] He gained international attention when his work was displayed in the Belgian consulate in New York, in 2006–2007.[3][4]

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Meersman comes from an artistic family. His grandfather was a painter, and both his mother and father were professional artists. When he was a young boy his parents took him to the art school in Temse, where they worked as teachers. At age thirteen, he entered a drawing contest for children, but was disqualified because the jury did not believe his entry was drawn by a child. After a protest from his father and performing the same drawing with the jury present, he won the prize money: 75,000 Belgian francs.[1]

After deciding he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his parents, he dropped out of high school and attended different art night schools instead. He was awarded degrees in publicity, printmaking, and figure drawing. In the meantime his father sent him to a photogravure company, where Meersman held a day job. When his father's drawing workshop became too big to be run by a single person, he became permanently involved there.[5]

[edit] Career

Initially, Meersman was mainly occupied with work in the publicity sector. He was hired as a caricaturist by Trends magazine in 1987 after he was noticed drawing visitors in a furniture shop, and has been drawing political cartoons for the magazine weekly ever since. The economical magazine calls the cartoonist their "jester of the socio-economic society".[6] In 1991, together with two of his siblings, Meersman took over his father's drawing studio Meersman I.D. to manage the ever-growing work load. He led the atelier until 2004, when the studio decided that the publicity sector had become too much for them.[5] In 2002, he became the permanent illustrator for Focus Knack, for which he draws caricatures of showbiz people most of the time.

[edit] Artwork

The artwork for magazines is done using traditional techniques: watercolor and pencil on paper. His interest in contemporary politics and news led him to political caricature as a living, and as he says: "I like to stand with both feet in the present, my work is a mirror of today."

caricature of Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni (2008)

caricature of Matt Damon (2007)

caricature of Keith Richards (2006)

illustration De Kust (Dutch for The Coast and a word play on the word kust which can mean both coast and kiss) (2006)

As his biggest influences he names Egon Schiele and the satirical prints in the tradition of Félicien Rops, Toulouse Lautrec, and Honoré Daumier.[5][6] His style is described as realism with a strong eye for detail.[1]

Besides caricatures and editorial cartoons Meersman also produces posters, stamps, paintings, and interior designs.[5] In the past he also produced book illustrations and children's books.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Editorial cartoon

  • Meersman, Karl (2007). VIPS : very important paintings. Roularta. ISBN 9789054665120
  • Vandamme, Hugo and Cambien, Karel (2007). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Wat baten kaars en bril : management in spreekwoorden : wat je op school niet leert. Roularta. ISBN 9789054669951
  • Trends (2000). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. België : tekenend en getekend 1990-2000 : Karl Meersman tekent tien jaar België / La Belgique traits pour traits 1990-2000 : Karl Meersman croque dix belges années. Roularta. ISBN 90-5466-478-9
  • Seghers, Hendrik (1997). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. De nieuwe collaboratie : een ondernemer in het verzet. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6152-655-8
  • Trends (1993). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. België in 30 hoofdstukken : over economie en politiek in de jaren '90. Roularta. ISBN 90-5466-073-2
  • Uytterhoeven, Mark (1988). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Wat een jaar, beste spotliefhebber! : de hoogtepunten van het sportjaar 1988. Roularta. ISBN 90-72411-12-9

[edit] Child and young adult literature

  • Meersman, Karl (2002). Een melkje wolk. Afijn. ISBN 90-5933-017-X
  • Kolet, Janssen (2000). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Wisselkind : roman. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-935-8
  • Linders, Jac (1999). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. De derde kans. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-922-6
  • De Maeyer, Gregie (1998). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. De koningste koning. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-878-5
  • Langenus, Ron (1997). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Onder de zwarte heuvel. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-777-0
  • Linders, Jac (1997). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Complot tegen Jesse. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-820-3
  • De Maeyer, Gregie (1996). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Ach. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-745-2
  • Langenus, Ron (1996). Illustrated by Meersman, Karl. Het geheim van de Zwarte Dame. Davidsfonds. ISBN 90-6565-735-5

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c Tollenaere, Rudy. "Cartoonist Karl Meersman stelt beroemde gezichten tentoon", Het Nieuwsblad, 2005-04-10. Retrieved on 2008-01-22. (Dutch) 
  2. ^ Laudatio, <http://www.karlmeersman.com/laudatio/index.asp?T=NL>. Retrieved on 22 January 2008  (Dutch)
  3. ^ Open House at the Consulate General of Belgium in New York, 2006-12, <http://www.francophonieny.org/newsletterdec2006.htm>. Retrieved on 22 January 2008 
  4. ^ Meersman's political caricatures of U.S. President George W. Bush were not allowed in the exposition. Getting them into the United States also created problems at the airport customs. (Trends, 2007-20-12)
  5. ^ a b My life, <http://www.karlmeersman.com/leven/index.asp?T=UK>. Retrieved on 22 January 2008 

[edit] Further reading

  • Herremans, Ben (2003). Karl Meersman : een getekend wereldbeeld / Karl Meersman traits marquant le monde. Roularta. ISBN 90-5466-593-9

[edit] External links