Jacob

Author: (German) Pres, Hong Peiqi compiled
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Hans Jürgen Press (1926.05.15), a renowned German cartoonist, illustrator, and children's literature writer, was born in Masuren, Germany. In 1948, he settled in Hamburg as a cartoonist and freelance printmaker, beginning his career in children's literature and comics. In 1953, he started contributing to the "Little Stars" column of the famous German magazine "Der Stern." In 1965, he began creating his masterpiece, "The Little Man Jacob" (Der Kleine Herr Jakob). Jacob is a comical and amusing little fellow with a huge nose that nearly takes up half his face, a tuft of messy facial hair on his lips, and twinkling, joke-inducing eyes beneath his droopy eyebrows. He wears a black hat on his round head, a black-and-white sailor shirt, and black pants, often accompanied by a clever little dog that adds to the humor. Jacob is a typical cartoon character, somewhat resembling Charlie Chaplin, as well as the neighbors and regular customers often seen at Press's tavern. He even bears a resemblance to his creator, Press. In his short stories, Jacob often appears cunning and clever but is fundamentally very kind, helpful, and empathetic, with a gentle nature that can soften stones. For this reason, in Italy, Jacob is affectionately called "Gentle Jacob." This work adopts the common four-panel silent comic format, with techniques that follow familiar conventions. Due to Press's rich life experiences and fresh sources of inspiration, his works are imbued with vitality. Press observes the world with a childlike curiosity, seemingly drawing from everyday life effortlessly. Yet with his magic brush, even the simplest incidents become endlessly amusing. His masterful and refined works are truly the works of a great artist. The Little Man Jacob also frequently appears in textbooks and entertainment magazines under the name "Gentle Jacob." Among Germany's most famous comic characters, he holds a significant position and has had a wide-ranging influence. In addition to "The Little Man Jacob," Press's other major works include the picture-logic story "Little Detective," among others. The children's picture books he compiled and illustrated, such as "Games—Learning Knowledge," "Traces of Nature," and "Secrets of Ordinary Workdays," are renowned for their unique style. These picture books guide children to observe, think, and experiment together: Why does air expand in a bottle? Why does it rain? How does sound travel? For children who are always asking "why," these picture books provide vivid and entertaining answers. Over a decade ago, the Yilin Publishing House introduced Press's masterpiece, "The Little Man Jacob," to China for the first time. It was not only warmly welcomed by young children and teenagers but also highly praised by some domestic and Hong Kong/Taiwanese children's cartoonists. Due to limitations at the time, the comic collection fell short in terms of the number of works, printing quality, and other aspects. For this reissue, we have specially re-edited and reprinted the collection to make the album even more exquisite and perfect.