It was 89 years ago that Tintin appeared for the first time in the supplement of a Brussels daily paper – Le Petit Vingtième.

The reporter’s adventures were published in black and white, and aimed at young readers. Inspired by the nascent film industry, Hergé created stories that referenced the twentieth century.

On his first adventure Tintin went to Russia and discovered the effect of Bolshevism on the country. 10 January 2018: Tintin celebrates his birthday.

In 2017 the adventure Tintin in the Land of the Soviets was re-published in a new colour version. The success of this audacious undertaking – an ambitious project to bring together modern techniques with the Hergéan savoir-faire that existed from the very first album – was amazing. Today The Adventures of Tintin are published practically all over the world.

It is incredible to think that a comic strip character should have so much success. The very first Tintin books were published with print runs of several hundred copies; today there are hundreds of millions of books distributed to the four corners of the Earth!

Tintin’s faithful friends accompany him throughout his stories. Every year they get together to celebrate his birthday. Everyone is there: Snowy, Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus, the Thom(p)sons… without forgetting Bianca Castafiore!

The adventures continue in earnest with a star character who never gets any wrinkles… or who manages to keep his lines, whichever way you prefer to look at it! Tintin travels all over the world with exhibitions that pay homage to the work of his author in the very best way. Following the Grand Palais in Paris and the Museum of Civilisation in Quebec, it is now China’s turn to welcome the universe of Hergé and Tintin. But of course you can always rely on the Hergé Museum in Louvain-la-Neuve to have on display the best collection of artwork and information for those who desire to learn more about the young reporter Tintin, and his creator.

The Hergé Museum is much more than your average museum: visitors travel deep within the life and work, the trials, tribulations, and astounding creativity of one man, and in doing so traverse the era in which he lived.

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Photos by © Nicolas Borel – Atelier Christian de Portzamparc – Photos by © Moulinsart

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