Morning

Author: Jean-Jacques Sempé [French]
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: China International Publishing Group has introduced 7 picture books by Sempé from different periods, selected as the best among classics. The French version of Sempé's work Morning was published in 1983, while the French version of Mr. Lambert appeared as early as 1965. These two works, created 18 years apart, allow us to appreciate Sempé's two distinctly different artistic styles. The early Mr. Lambert features illustrations tightly aligned with the story's progression, each element connected in sequence. In the 1980s' Morning, Sempé gradually moved away from the conventional storytelling mode, employing a more ideological perspective to freely capture similar emotions from various scenarios. The other five titles are: My Other Half, Airmail, A Little of Paris, The Girl with Glasses, and Luxury, Peace & Pleasure. Readers can savor Sempé's sentiments and their own reflections through these works.
Morning is the time when one awakens from dreams, marking the beginning of leaving the realm of fantasy and embracing the realities of life. Whether it's the disillusionment of sweet dreams or the abrupt realization of nightmares, upon waking, the human spirit is inevitably influenced and constrained by the external environment, leaving little room for relief or relaxation. Only in dreams can the desires hidden deep within the subconscious be unleashed, like wild horses galloping without restraint.
The renowned French picture book artist Sempé sets his scenes against urban gatherings and rows of towering skyscrapers, portraying the joys and sorrows, sophistication, and helplessness of city dwellers. The entire work is shrouded in a mysterious and dim atmosphere. Though most people's perception of morning differs greatly, Sempé brilliantly captures the sophistication and helplessness of urban life, as well as the avoidance attitude toward reality. It is worth mentioning that both the illustrations and text of this book carry a super-realistic tone, grounded in psychoanalytic theory. Sempé pours his subconsciously bizarre imagination and creativity into these works with abandon. His writing becomes increasingly refined and concise, while his ability to transform images grows more profound. The illustrations even transcend the limitations of the text, existing independently to convey emotions that words alone cannot express.
Morning depicts the boundary between wakefulness and dreams, a time when will and desire, hope and loss coexist. The images of awakening consciousness and the shadowy, detached figures perhaps draw closer to our souls. Sempé's art is so enigmatic that even the French themselves cannot fully comprehend him—perhaps this is precisely why he is not just French, but not even European. His greatest contribution to the world is providing a pair of Sempé's eyes.