Visit to the Tomi Ungerer Museum in Strasbourg

Updated on 2024-04-23

The 3 Brigands, The Giant of Zeralda, John of the Moon, The Mellops... You must know one of these children's books written by Tomi Ungerer. The artist from Strasbourg, who passed away in February 2019, left a huge mark on the world of illustration in Alsace and in France. But also in the United States, where he worked between 1956 and 1970 for prestigious magazines such as The New-York Times or Life.

Léa

As a journalist in real life, and a blogger for pleasure, Léa has always enjoyed tracking down little-known gourmet addresses, unusual activities, off-the-beaten-track hikes and places with history and soul... And Alsace is full of them!

Since 2007, a museum has been dedicated to him in Strasbourg and exhibits some of the 11,000 sketches, original drawings, annotated texts, mechanical toys, prints, posters and advertisements that Tomi Ungerer donated to the city of Strasbourg.

The visit of the Tomi Ungerer Museum begins with the drawings of his children’s books, in chronological order (1956-2018). I love discovering the originals, trying to decipher the pencil notes on some of the documents and watching the old cartoons from his works. A documentary, “Trait pour Trait”, also retraces the life of Tomi Ungerer and a small reading corner has been set up to (re)immerse yourself in his books.

Tomi Ungerer the cartoonist

On the second floor, we leave childhood behind to discover Tomi the cartoonist and committed artist. He made many drawings or posters against racial segregation, the war in Vietnam and all forms of discrimination. His satirical drawings, which mocked American society, contributed greatly to his success. Tomi Ungerer was also an advocate of children’s rights, Alsatian particularities and Franco-German reconciliation, having lived through the trauma of the Second World War.

The visit continues in the basement, forbidden to the young public! And for good reason: we find there his most black or erotic works, like his famous Kamasutra of the frogs.

Three times a year, the Tomi Ungerer Museum organizes temporary exhibitions. The last themes were the use of photography in Tomi Ungerer’s work or his vision of Europe. Other works of artists, from whom he was inspired or who were inspired by the Strasbourg illustrator, are often presented. I find these temporary exhibitions always very interesting and successful.

I really recommend this museum: if you know Tomi Ungerer, you will like it. And if you don’t know him, it will be a great discovery! In Strasbourg, you can also visit the historical museum, to learn more about the history of the city, or the Alsatian museum, a real dive into the daily life of Alsatians of the 18th and 19th centuries.

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