Lao Sanmao.1

Author: Jacobson Yiran
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: Among the famous comic characters abroad, there are several old "Samos." Oscar Jacobson, a renowned Swedish cartoonist, created the bald old man with only three hairs on his head—Andersson—who is one of the most beloved. Andersson is a mistranslation of Adamson (both being surnames in Sweden), and it has been used in China for over half a century. To align the translation with the name the artist originally gave this comic character, some cartoonists have written articles urging a correction. This Andersson is the protagonist of the world-renowned comic strip "Andersson," which is celebrated as an excellent comic series. He "is unremarkable in appearance but sturdy in build; though old, he is not worldly-wise; often wearing a top hat and holding a cigar, he wanders the streets alone, experiencing various adventures, and even when staying at home, he often encounters trouble; he is a hero who is out of touch with the times but always victorious." As early as the 1940s, Chinese cartoonist Wang Zimei introduced Andersson in an article titled "Five Types of Comic Strips" by writing: "The hero is like Don Quixote, and his spiritual victory is like that of Ah Q. In the magazines and picture supplements, he is active, stealing the spotlight from the popular characters; his humor, which is extraordinary yet ordinary, is so hilarious that it makes people laugh out loud. This is partly due to the typical cuteness of the main character and partly because of the simplicity and economy of the illustrations, as well as the witty and enduring humor." Another cartoonist believed: "What makes him unique is that I think we should also see his tenacious and hardworking personality. Many old-world comic strip protagonists are ordinary people and failures in life, and in this regard, Andersson has its own distinct charm, leaving people to ponder."
As a cartoonist, Jacobson only started later in life after turning 30. Born in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1889, he lost both his parents at a young age and could only attend school three days a week. At the age of 13, he dropped out of school to work as a long-term laborer and later worked as a logger, blacksmith, and train stoker. After graduating from the Wallens Art School, he taught at night and worked for the famous newspaper "Dagbladet" and other newspapers. On October 17, 1920, he began serializing the long comic strip "Andersson" in the humorous weekly "Sunday—Nisse," and starting the following year, he published an annual standalone volume. This had a worldwide impact and became a classic in the treasure trove of European comics. Selections of his work were published in Germany, England, France, the United States, and other countries. During his travels in Greece and Italy from 1925 to 1926, he created "Andersson's Wanderings." In 1934, the older generation of Chinese cartoonists Zhang Guangyu selected 100 of his works and published them as a standalone volume, which the Japanese cartoon world still regards as a model. "Andersson" was published by the United Press in the United States in 1922 and renamed "Sam the Silent," but after 1936, local cartoonists even took over the drawing, adding backgrounds and dialogue. In 1930, Jacobson held a solo exhibition at the Gullmanson Art Hall in Stockholm. In 1944, he published "A Selection of Andersson's Best Works from 25 Years." Even in his later years, despite suffering from a terminal illness, he dedicated himself to creating another comic character—Magician "Abu Al-Khayr"—which was serialized in the newspaper "Vi." The following year, it was published as a standalone volume. He passed away at the end of the same year. In 1946, his hometown of Gothenburg held a retrospective exhibition for him, with his works displayed at multiple venues, including the Gothenburg Art Museum. The Danish cartoonist Viggo Rode once continued drawing Andersson without signing his name until 1965. Two annual awards for domestic and international comic strips in Denmark were designed as small statues of Andersson.
Jacobson's technical skills were outstanding. The character of Andersson is highly individualized and typical, rarely seen in world comic strips. Jacobson's works are rich in ingenuity and free of vulgar or lowbrow depictions.