About Rasmus Klump
The first drawing of Rasmus Klump
When was Rasmus Klump Born?
The Rasmus Klump comic strip made its debut on 17 November 1951 in Danish daily Berlingske Aftenavis. By the following year, Rasmus Klump (the character known in English language versions as Petzi, Barnaby Bear or Bruin) was featured in 62 newspapers, and by 1955, his popularity had spread to 21 countries. The first Rasmus Klump book was published in 1952, becoming an even greater success than the newspaper strips. Since 1951, over 80 different Rasmus Klump books have been published, selling approximately 20 million copies.
Who created the adorable bear?
The story behind the artist and author
Rasmus Klump and his friends were brought to life by the creative husband-and-wife team, Vilhelm and Carla Hansen. Vilhelm, a talented artist, crafted the endearing characters, while Carla, a gifted writer, penned the charming stories for the comic strips.
Vilhelm’s artistic journey began at the age of 14 as a lithographer apprentice. He went on to become a highly sought-after commercial artist in Denmark and internationally. In 1924, he married Carla, a milliner six years his junior, who would later become the storyteller behind Rasmus Klump. The couple resided in the Copenhagen neighbourhood of Østerbro throughout their long and happy marriage, celebrating 75 years together before Vilhelm’s passing in 1992. Carla established the Rasmus Klump Award in their memory before she passed away in 2001.
