Herluf Bidstrup (; 10 September 1912 – 26 December 1988) was a Danish cartoonist and illustrator. Bidstrup was educated as a painter at the

Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts () has provided education in the arts for more than 250 years, playing its part in the development of the art of Denmark. History The Royal Danish Academy of Portraiture, Sculpture, and Architecture in Cope ...

and throughout his career he authored more than 5,000 cartoons. He was a firm supporter of

communism Communism () is a political sociology, sociopolitical, political philosophy, philosophical, and economic ideology, economic ideology within the history of socialism, socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a ...

and very much concerned with the international affairs of his time and social satire. However, not all his work revolves around politics and ideology.

Artwork

Bidstrup published his first drawings on his 20th birthday in a notable Danish newspaper, but had exhibited already at the age of 14 in a children's art exhibition in Copenhagen. As a communist, Bidstrup drew many cartoons about international politics and social themes, as well as subject matter related to the effects of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Large parts of his work however, just captures and presents the humour in everyday life situations. He was employed as a cartoonist at the Danish communist newspaper ''" Land og Folk"'' from after the war until his death in 1988 and he caricatured many politicians among his political and satirical cartoons. Bidstrup travelled extensively throughout his career, in particular in the socialist countries of the

Eastern Bloc The Eastern Bloc, also known as the Communist Bloc (Combloc), the Socialist Bloc, the Workers Bloc, and the Soviet Bloc, was an unofficial coalition of communist states of Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America that were a ...

, most notably

East Germany East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...

and the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

where he also produced animated movies and exhibited. During the

German occupation of Denmark At the outset of World War II in September 1939, Denmark declared itself neutral, but that neutrality did not prevent Nazi Germany from occupying the country soon after the outbreak of war; the occupation lasted until Germany's defeat. The ...

in World War II he lived in the US, and in his time he was among the most popular and well-known Danish artists abroad. His works are still very popular in Russia and China today. In addition to his prolific production of cartoons to many different media, Bidstrup also produced posters and illustrated books, including children's books, educational material and his own travelogues. His book ''"Kinarejse"'' (1956) about his travels in China has been translated to Russian, Chinese, German and English ("Herluf Bidstrup in China"). Some of his artwork can be experienced at The Workers Museum in Copenhagen.Jyllands-Posten
Fra bidsk satire til erotisk glød

Prizes and honors

Bidstrup was awarded many prizes and honors, many of which were related to the international socialist and communist movements. * The International Lenin Peace Prize, 1964 * Honorary member of

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

s International Association of Art (IAA/AIAP), 1974 * Honorary member of the USSR Academy of Arts, 1974 * Kulturfondens hæderspris, 1981. A notable Danish art prize.

Sources

* Kunstindeks Danmark
Herluf Bidstrup

Bidstrup

References

External links

* * Infographics
Herluf Bidstrup cartoons video
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bidstrup, Herluf 1912 births 1988 deaths Danish anti-war activists Danish caricaturists Danish satirists Danish satirical comics artists Danish poster artists Danish comics artists Danish comics writers Danish communists Danish political artists Danish editorial cartoonists Danish children's book illustrators Recipients of the Lenin Peace Prize Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour German emigrants to Denmark