Herluf Bidstrup (10 September 1912 – 26 December 1988) was a

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

cartoonist and illustrator. Bidstrup was educated as a painter at the

Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts ( da, Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi - Billedkunst Skolerne) 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 Dani ...

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

communism Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, a s ...

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, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. 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 Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of the planet Earth that is not submerged by the ocean or other bodies of water. It makes up 29% of Earth's surface and includes the continents and various islan ...

"'' 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 and the Soviet Bloc, was the group of socialist states of Central and Eastern Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America under the influence of the Soviet Union that existed du ...

, most notably

East Germany East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...

and the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...

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. For most of the war, the country was a protectorate and then an occupied territory of Germany. The decision to occupy Denmark was taken in Berlin on 17 December ...

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 The International Lenin Peace Prize (russian: международная Ленинская премия мира, ''mezhdunarodnaya Leninskaya premiya mira)'' was a Soviet Union award named in honor of Vladimir Lenin. It was awarded by a pane ...

, 1964 * Honorary member of

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

International Association of Art International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...

(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

Bidstrup cartoons
* Infographics
Herluf Bidstrup cartoons video
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bidstrup, Herluf 1912 births 1988 deaths Danish anti-war activists Danish caricaturists Danish cartoonists Danish comics artists Danish communists Lenin Peace Prize recipients Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour German emigrants to Denmark