Much as I have loved Babar from childhood, I had forgotten about many of the stories’ details that make the character more than just your average elephant. Besides the suit, bowler, and crown, Drawing Babar: Early Drafts and Watercolors, the exhibition at the Morgan Libraryreminded me of the complexities and richness that have forged this character into a memorably poignant one. The character was created by Cécile de Brunhoff for her two sons. Her husband, Jean de Brunhoff, had been a painter but had never undertaken childrens’ books until Babar.
Many of the great children’s stories seem to involve some kind of traumatic event that can scar kids for life. Here, a major plot point is that baby Babar’s mother gets shot by a hunter while he’s riding on her back. Ulp. So after he cries over her dead body, he takes off for France, gets a tailored suit (green, of all colors), shacks up with a rich older woman, and learns how to drive a roadster. Natch.
Two of the series’ books comprise the heart of the Morgan exhibition. Jean de Brunhoff’sHistoire de Babar, le petit éléphant (The Story of Babar the Little Elephant) is included, the inaugural book from 1931. Preliminary drawings, final watercolors, and printer’s proofs are shown. It’s fascinating to see the early sketches, where some of the elephants resemble blob-like doodles. You can see the evolution from concept to final composition, and note how the essence of each character was there from the start.
