Mose (Moïse David) was a 20th-century French cartoonist and illustrator. He is best known for having taken over and drawn for decades the famous comic strip character Professor Nimbus, originally created by André Daix.
Mose(1300 av. J.-C. — ?)
Mose
5 min read
Frequently asked questions
Key Facts
- French cartoonist active in the mid-20th century.
- Took over the character of Professor Nimbus, created by André Daix in 1934.
- Ensured the continuity of this daily comic strip published in the French press.
- A notable figure of the humorous newspaper cartooning of his time.
Works & Achievements
The revival and continuation, over nearly twenty years, of the famous comic strip created by André Daix. It is the work that made Mose famous.
Thousands of brief, often wordless vignettes, published day after day in the French press.
Illustration work for the press, in the tradition of the humorous newspaper cartoon.
Under Mose's hand, the bald scientist with his single hair gains in consistency and in recognition among the general public.
Anecdotes
Mose, whose real name was Moïse David, took over the character of Professor Nimbus in 1947 — a bald, absent-minded scientist recognizable by his single hair shaped like a question mark. He drew him for nearly twenty years, extending a comic strip already beloved by newspaper readers.
Professor Nimbus, whom Mose brought to life day after day, was one of the first French comics published as a horizontal strip in the press, in the manner of American comics. Each day, readers found a small silent — or nearly silent — scene, contained in three or four panels.
Nimbus's distinctive feature was its often wordless humor: the comedy arose solely from the drawing and the scientist's clumsiness. Mose therefore had to tell a funny, complete story in just a few strokes, an exercise demanding great graphic skill.
Working for the daily press, Mose was subject to the relentless rhythm of the newspaper: a strip had to be delivered every day, never missing an appointment with the readers, sometimes several weeks ahead to stay on top of printing deadlines.
Primary Sources
The scholar Nimbus, recognizable by his bald head topped with a single curly hair, strings together inventions and disasters in wordless three- or four-panel vignettes.
The pen name Mose accompanies the strips taken over after the original creator André Daix, marking the character's continuity under a new hand.
Key Places
Capital of the French press and publishing industry in the 20th century, the heart of newspaper cartoonists' activity. Mose practiced his craft there within the world of press comics.
The country where Mose lived and worked, during a golden age of humorous cartoons published in daily newspapers.
The place where the daily strips of Professor Nimbus were received, laid out and printed. The cartoonist regularly delivered his work there.
Typical Objects
The basic tool of the newspaper cartoonist, the pen dipped in black ink produces crisp, contrasted lines that reproduce well in print. Mose used it to ink his strips before publication.
A large slanted surface on which the cartoonist fixes his sheet to draw his panels. It shapes the illustrator's entire daily work.
A horizontal band of a few panels published every day in a newspaper. This was the format in which Professor Nimbus lived.
Thick, smooth paper ideal for ink, on which the cartoonist creates his original plates before reproduction. Its quality influences the final printed result.
The medium through which the strip was distributed, the newspaper brought Professor Nimbus into French homes every day. There the comic strip sat alongside the news and classified ads.
Used to sketch the drawing in rough before the final inking. Its light strokes were then erased once the ink was dry.
School Curriculum
Vocabulary & Tags
Key Vocabulary
Daily Life
Morning
The morning often began with reading the newspapers and sketching out gag ideas. The cartoonist would pencil the panels of his strip before moving on to inking.
Afternoon
The afternoon was devoted to the meticulous inking of the boards with pen and India ink. Strict deadlines had to be met to deliver on time to the newspaper's editorial office.
Evening
In the evening, the artist might prepare ideas for the following strips or proofread the printed galleys. The life of a newspaper cartoonist was paced by the daily deadline of the paper.
Food
Like most French city dwellers of the mid-twentieth century, he shared a simple cuisine of bread, vegetables, meat on Sundays, and coffee. The postwar years long bore the marks of rationing.
Clothing
Back then, people wore a suit and tie in town, with a hat and coat depending on the season. At his drawing table, the cartoonist might swap his jacket for a smock to protect his clothes from the ink.
Housing
He most likely lived in a Parisian apartment, with a corner set up as a studio around the drawing board. Daylight, precious for drawing, was sought after there.
Historical Timeline
Period Vocabulary
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
Le Professeur Nimbus (reprise)
à partir de 1947
Strips quotidiens du Professeur Nimbus
1947-1965
Illustrations et dessins humoristiques de presse
XXe siècle
Développement graphique du personnage de Nimbus
1947-1965
