Historia Comica Opus 2

~ Opus 1 ~

The first Opus of the Historia Comica shows 200 important events, 2,000 years of the history of man, from the birth of Christ until today. It was made in two versions:

VERSION 1 (poster):

The first version, created in 1998 as a picture of 120 × 90 cm, has the form of a large party game.

In the centre, the 2,000 years of our age are presented in a spiral of 200 squares. Each square depicts a humorous image of an important event within the decade it represents. The lower left-hand corner depicts a rather free illustration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The other corners show the cavemen, ancient Egypt and ancient Greece.

This version took nine months to finish: four months for the research of the historical events, three months for the sketches, two months for the final drawings in rapidograph and coloured ink.

It was published 1999 by the publishing house of Heye Verlag, Munich, as a 8000. puzzle, calendar, poster and as a special edition on watercolour paper. It also appeared as a party game at the publishing house Schmidt Spiele, Berlin.

The OPUS 1 of Historia Comica is actually published as a 4000. puzzle by Heye Verlag and can be ordered online. (go to the shop...)

VERSION 2 (linear version):

In 1999, the success of the first version inspired me to create a second version. The squares were no longer arranged in a spiral and didn't have the frames of the party game. Thus, they can be easily used in newspapers, magazines and books and reach a larger target group.

At this opportunity, the chronology was revised, some events were put in another place and others were removed altogether, a short historical explanation was added to each picture and all 200 pictures were redrawn in a different, sharper style and another technique, using a pen and watercolours.

Five months' work was necessary to realize 50 original drawings (40 × 25 cm), each containing four illustrated events.

If you put them in a row, they add up to nearly 20 metres.

This version was published as a calendar and a diary by the publishing house Heye Verlag, Munich. It was also printed in the French monthly magazine Science et Vie Junior.

The second Opus of the Historia Comica follows the history of the earth and mankind over 14 billion years, from the big bang to the birth of Christ.

For the time being, only the poster version is planned.

VERSION 1 (poster):

The poster version of the second Opus has been finished at the end of the year 2009.

It will follow the form and the idea of the first Opus apart from one major difference: The intervals between the squares will not be a decade each as it is impossible to put it into practice over such a long period.

For a somewhat logical division, however subjective it may be, the squares have been divided as follows:

- From the big bang to 3400 BC (the invention of script and the end of the prehistoric era): squares 1-91 without regular division.

- From 3400 BC to 2200 BC, squares 92-117: 25 squares (each square stands for 50 years).

- From 2200 BC to 1200 BC, squares 117-142: 25 squares (each square stands for 40 years).

- From 1200 BC to 600 BC, squares 142-165: 24 squares (each square stands for 25 years).

- From 600 BC to 100 BC, squares 166-190: 25 squares (each square stands for 20 years).

- From 100 BC to 1 BC, squares 191-200: 10 squares (each square stands for 10 years).

The OPUS 2 of Historia Comica is actually published as a 4000. puzzle by Heye Verlag and can be ordered online. (go to the shop...)

VERSION 2 (linear version):

If this project gains enough attention from your part and if the sky won't fall onto my head in the meantime, I will be pleased to continue the adventure and create a linear version of the second Opus directly on this website.
I'll keep the news running.