Three careers in one
Children's illustrator, savage political artist, erotic draughtsman.
Claude TRUONG-NGOC — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo Claude TRUONG-NGOC — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Txllxt TxllxT — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Txllxt TxllxT — CC BY-SA 4.0
A museum in a nineteenth-century villa devoted to the illustrator Tomi Ungerer (1931–2019), born in Strasbourg, and an international centre for illustration. Ungerer is an unusual figure in the history of drawing: he was known worldwide for children's picture books that are still in print, and at the same time produced fierce political posters against the Vietnam war and segregation, along with erotic drawings whose scandal ended his American career for decades. The museum shows all three together without separating them. That combination is what makes it an interesting museum: these sides are rarely displayed in one place, and it puts the question directly — how the same person is both a beloved children's illustrator and a savage political artist. The collection also holds work by illustrators from around the world, so the museum is a centre for illustration as an art rather than a shrine to one man. Practical points: there is a room of adult work with a separate, age-restricted entrance — note that if you have children. The museum is relatively small: an hour to ninety minutes.
Children's illustrator, savage political artist, erotic draughtsman.
His adult work ended his American career for decades.
It shows illustrators from around the world, not only Ungerer.
Villa Greiner, near the Palais du Rhin, Strasbourg
Janus FountainA contemporary fountain of 1988 designed by the artist Jean Tinguely to mark two3 minutes walk4.7
Palais du RhinThe Palais du Rhin is Strasbourg's frank German face: a massive imperial palace 4 minutes walk4.5
Saint-Paul's ChurchA Protestant church in the Gothic Revival manner on a spit of land where two wat4 minutes walk4.6
Strasbourg CathedralFor more than two centuries Strasbourg Cathedral was the tallest building on ear6 minutes walk4.7
Strasbourg Archaeological MuseumAn archaeology museum in the basement of the Palais Rohan, among the most import7 minutes walk4.0The main sections very much so — Ungerer's picture books are internationally known and loved. But the museum has a room of adult work behind a separate, age-restricted entrance, and no child will wander into it. Ask at the entrance to be sure.
An Alsatian illustrator born in Strasbourg in 1931 who lived through the Nazi occupation as a child, which shaped his attitude to authority. He moved to New York and became one of the best-known children's book illustrators, then produced political posters against the Vietnam war and segregation, and erotic work that led to his being boycotted. He returned to Europe and spent the rest of his life in Ireland, and was later recognised as among the most important illustrators of the twentieth century.