A few weeks ago we stumbled on a 1946 collection of ‘Zondagsvriend‘ and started turning pages and pages and pages. The bundle helt 10 drawings by Bob De Moor which so far have never been re-published in any format. They sometimes show the comic author Bob De Moor at work in a way very few people know. It also shows a Bob De Moor working on improving his drawing technique.

Today we present you a first drawing from this collection. It’s an ad in the format of a cartoon for the ‘Kleine Zondagsvriend’, the magazine for kids which originally came for free with ‘Zondagsvriend’. The cross selling would actually be a recurrent affair for Bob De Moor who would make more cartoons like this.

In this specific drawing we see a certain mister Van Pereghem being questioned by his boss, asking him why he is always too late on Friday. Van Pereghem replies that on that day the ‘Kleine Zondagsvriend’ arrives for his kids (implying he also reads it?). You’ll notice the slightly wobbly way in which De Moor drew the furniture in this cartoon, which still reminds of his time at the AFIM studios in Antwerp where the Walt Disney way of drawing was a must. Nevertheless the whole looks very balanced and shows real craftsmanship (look at the chair of the boss for instance). The same style of drawing was omnipresent in his Hobbel & Sobbel comic series which he was working on around the same time this cartoon was published.

‘Zondagsvriend’ was a weekly lifestyle magazine, published by NV De Vlijt between 1930 tot in 1965. Besides current affairs, sports, film, art and royalty it also brought cartoons and comics. Although collectors would later on mostly know the children’s edition ‘Kleine Zondagsvriend’ (K.Z.V.) ‘Zondagsvriend’ itself also included cartoons. Artists who contributed to ‘Zondagsvriend’ included Jan Waterschoot, Rik, Marc Sleen, Ray Goossens but also Bob De Moor.