Nijntje PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ber van de Rijdt   
nijntjeNijntje should be the most famous bunny of the world. she is the creation of Dick Bruna, who drew this bunny at the first time in 1955 during his vacation with his children by the sea. One day the children had seen a bunny and then was Bruna by this bunny inspired. He will be a good father, he is easy to get on, friendly and ‘normal’. Maybe just because he is so normal the Nijntje got a simple appearance. That simple appearance is eventually the basic of the success. Thus, for taking an essence back..get to be successful over the world.

The lines are minimal and simplest. The colors are reduced to primary and secondary colors, as red, orange, yellow, green and blue. No more. Through the thick black outlines the whole figuur becomes sharp and graphic

It reminds of The Style, art movement that the famous Dutch artist Piet Mondrian and his works.  Also he drew with the primary and secondary colors and basic forms such as square, rectangle and some lines. By that most basics you are really touched by what the arts can present. Much simpler can

not, and the general public think that they also can do that way. But that’s against…With fundamental nature of this art it seems timeless. After 100 years it will be still supposed modern view.

The images in the stories about Nijntje contain no more than necessary. The texts were and are self-made by Bruna. That is very particular because good writing and nice drawing are just two very different things. Great translation either. Just because all of Nijntje is so minimal it must be right taken over, the colors as well as the language, for the countless – large and small -  everywhere in the world enjoys the work of Bruna each day. The master is therefore to know that he is strict. Meticulously each edition in each country is checked whether the colors are correct, and whether the using of language comes closer to the meaning of the story producer. The number of countries where Bruna’s story read is still expanding, he gets really busy with that. Who has been ever able to look around in the attic of Bruna's studio in the city of Utrecht, knows that you just can’t go around the huge closet with Nijntje-books. Here are all the editions in all possible translations. The city of Utrecht cherishes its famous resident. He even has own Bruna-house. There is where Nijntje Pluis lives, the middle of the centre.