After more than four years of work, Malagasy illustrator Liva Rajaobelina and French screenwriter Joan De Crane have published Les Ombres des soirs, une fugue d’Arthur Rimbaud, an original comic book dedicated to the youth of the famous poet.
At the age of 16, Arthur Rimbaud ran away, opening a unique chapter in his life. This period of his youth inspired the new comic book, created by Malagasy artist Liva Rajaobelina—known by the pseudonym ‘Liva’—and French writer Joan De Crane. Published independently after four years of labor, the album blends biographical narrative, travelogue, and a coming-of-age adventure to offer a fresh perspective on the poet’s life and legend.
Born on January 1, 1971, in Madagascar, Liva Rajaobelina is a renowned illustrator and portraitist. He has gained international recognition for his atypical and meticulous graphic techniques. His artistic signatures include the use of ballpoint pens and razor blades—a technique involving scraping the paper to create striking contrasts—as well as monochrome pointillism, a precise and demanding style that requires immense patience to bring depth to his black-and-white works.
The 64-page album, measuring 24 x 32 cm, is presented in black and white. It is now available in limited quantities in Antananarivo, complete with author dedications. Graphic novel and literature enthusiasts can now discover this new work, which revisits a chapter of Arthur Rimbaud’s youth through the intersecting perspectives of two authors from different cultures.
The IFM (Institut Français de Madagascar) in Analakely is also preparing an event centered around this new comic book for the month of October.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-28 05:39:02 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/bande-dessinee-liva-rajaobelina.html