Rodolphe Töpffer

In 1837, he published Histoire de Mr. Vieux Bois (published in the United States in 1842 as The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck). Each page of the book had one to six captioned cartoon panels, much like modern comics. Töpffer published several more of these books, and wrote theoretical essays on the form.

• Name — Rodolphe Töpffer • Born — 31 January 1799 • Birthplace — Geneva, Léman, France (now Switzerland) • Died — 8 June 1846 • Place of death — Geneva, Restored Swiss Confederation (now Switzerland) • Occupation — * Cartoonist • Author • Painter • Known for — Credited with being the first comics artist

• Illustration — Töpffer Monument in Geneva Töpffer was born on 12 pluviôse of the seventh year of the French Republican calendar at ten hours after noon (« dix heures après midi »), that is on 31 January 1799, in Geneva, Léman, France. His father Wolfgang-Adam Töpffer was a painter and occasional caricaturist. His grandfather, Georg-Christoph, a master tailor, had come from Franconia and held a sock factory in Geneva. Töpffer was educated in Paris from 1819 to 1820, then returned to Geneva and became a school teacher. By 1823, he established his own boarding school for boys. In 1832, he was appointed Professor of Literature at the University of Geneva. Relatively successful in his profession, Töpffer gained fame from activities he pursued in his spare time. He painted local landscapes in a style considered influenced by contemporary Romanticism. He wrote short stories and entertained his students by drawing caricatures. He collected these caricatures in books; the first of them, Histoire de Mr. Vieux Bois (The Story of Mr. Wooden Head), was completed by 1827 but not published until 1837. It was 30 pages, each containing one to six captioned panels. It was translated and republished in the United States in 1842 as The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck. The stories were reproduced by autography, a variation of lithography that allowed him to draw on specially prepared paper with a pen. The process allowed for a loose line, and was quicker and freer than the more common engraving process.

Töpffer wrote two chapters on child art and child creativity in his book Reflections et menus propos d'un peintre genevois (1848), which was published after his death. He wrote that children often displayed greater creativity than trained artists, whose creativity was often overshadowed by their technical skill.

The authorities additionally record the headings Rodolphe Topffer, Rudolphe Töpffer, Rodolphe Toepffer, rodolphe topffer and Rudolf Töpffer. His recorded language was French. His recorded confession was reformed. He was the child of Wolfgang Adam Töpffer. 3 children are recorded: Jean-Charles Töpffer, Adele Töpffer and François Töpffer.