Air Mail

Author: Jean-Jacques Sempé
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Are you a Sempé fan? Who is Sempé?
The simplest answer is—master of picture books. When it comes to picture books, some may mention Ji Mi from Taiwan, yet when discussing the rich humanistic tradition of European picture books, no one dares to overlook Sempé. —Recommended by Beijing Evening News. Between the near and the far, between half-dream and half-awake, between indifference and compassion, it’s like a cup of water that has settled for a long time and is then gently stirred.
After gaining fame with illustrations for Little Nicholas in 1960, Sempé has now published over twenty works. Across the world, devoted Sempé fans communicate and share the joy of reading Sempé in their own ways. Sempé has no distinctive "Sempé-style" language, which makes it difficult for fans to find the usual entry points for appreciating his work. "Sempé" becomes the only key to this enchanting world. It’s hard to say what Sempé focuses on. French publications describe his characters as small as birds, yet unable to soar freely—they are idealists trapped by daily trivialities, dreaming of open spaces but bound firmly to the ground.
He is sharp and detached; Mr. Lambert is entirely in the style of a French art film, with fixed scenes, fixed characters, and repeated Christmas celebrations. A character who is always absent is the protagonist of the entire book. Politics, football, and women serve as outlets for men to mask their inner desolation. Life in cafes is aimless, with everyone talking endlessly yet saying nothing at all.
He is humorous; in Airmail, the clash between aggressive culture and deeply leisurely yet declining culture is portrayed with comedic effect. He is delicate; My Other Half is a vivid portrayal of the emotional landscape of various people, filled with yearning, calculation, giving, and waiting. Every emotional cross-section is thick, absurd, and filled with doubt. He is incisive; Morning depicts the boundary between dreams and wakefulness—a time where willpower and desire, hope and despair coexist. The flowing images and somber mood of the characters may be closer to our souls. In A Little of Paris, even the grand Paris is just a prop, with all the scenery hinting at a humble French provincial man behind them. Perhaps understanding the of such a person is more interesting than understanding a great city.
Sempé’s artistic realm is unfathomable, even to the French themselves. Perhaps this is precisely why Sempé is not just French—he is not even European. His greatest contribution to the world is providing a pair of Sempé eyes.
Sempé is a renowned French picture book master. He captures the world between half-dream and half-awake, between indifference and compassion, like a cup of water that has settled for a long time and is then gently stirred. After reading Sempé’s books, you might gain a new perspective on the world, as humorous and detached as Sempé. Or, if you travel to Europe and view everything through Sempé’s lens, perhaps everything takes on a new meaning.
After reading Sempé’s books, you might gain a new perspective on the world, as humorous and detached as Sempé. Or, if you travel to Europe and view everything through Sempé’s lens, perhaps everything takes on a new meaning.