Gabriel Vargas (cartoonist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gabriel Vargas (cartoonist) |
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1983 "Premio Nacional de Periodismo" (National Journalism Prize) award ceremony
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| Born | Gabriel Bernal Vargas February 5, 1915 Tulancingo, Hidalgo |
| Died | May 25, 2010 (aged 95) Mexico City |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Area(s) | Cartoonist, painter |
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Notable works
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La Familia Burrón (comic strip) The Burrón Family |
| Awards | 1983 "Premio Nacional de Periodismo" (National Journalism Prize) 2003 "Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes en el área de Tradiciones Populares" (National Sciences and Arts Prize) |
Gabriel Bernal Vargas (born February 5, 1915 – died May 25, 2010) was a famous Mexican cartoonist. He created the well-known comic strip La Familia Burrón in 1937. Many people consider this comic one of the most important parts of Mexican popular culture. Gabriel Vargas won several important awards. These include the "Premio Nacional de Periodismo" (National Journalism Prize) in 1983. He also received the "Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes" (National Sciences and Arts Prize) in 2003.
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Early Life and First Comics
Gabriel Vargas was born in Tulancingo, Hidalgo, Mexico. This was on February 5, 1915. He grew up with 11 brothers and sisters. His father was a merchant and passed away when Gabriel was only four years old.
In 1922, his mother, Josefina Bernal, moved the family. They went to live in Mexico City. Around 1928, when Gabriel was about 13, he started working. He became a draftsman for the Excélsior newspaper. By 1931, at just 16 years old, he was the newspaper's main artist.
Vargas won an art contest held by Panamericana Editorial. This win helped him create his first comic. It was called Los Superlocos. The main characters from this comic later inspired La Familia Burrón.
La Familia Burrón Comic Strip
In 1937, Gabriel Vargas started drawing La Familia Burrón. This was a separate comic series. It told the story of a family named Burrón. The parents were Regino Burrón and Borola Tacuche de Burrón. They had two teenage children, Regino and Macuca. The family also adopted a younger boy named Foforito Cantarranas.
La Familia Burrón showed the funny daily struggles of a lower class family. They lived in a poor Mexican neighborhood, called a barrio. At its most popular, the comic strip was a huge success. It helped newspapers sell up to 500,000 copies every week! The comic was stopped for a while but started again in 1978.
Later Years and Legacy
In 2007, a famous art supporter named Carlos Monsiváis opened a museum. It was called the Museo del Estanquillo. He held an exhibition there featuring Vargas' La Familia Burrón artwork. Gabriel Vargas himself attended the opening. The Burrón Family characters were shown in paintings. These included Regino Burrón, Borola Tacuche de Burrón, Regino, and Foforito. At this time, Vargas had been unwell for many years.
The Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes announced Gabriel Vargas' death. He passed away on May 25, 2010, at his home in Mexico City. His health had been getting worse in his final years. The council said Vargas was "one of the greatest representatives of the golden age of Mexican comics." They also called him "an undeniable reference point for the nation’s popular culture."
Awards and Recognition
Gabriel Vargas received many honors for his work. In 1983, he won the "Premio Nacional de Periodismo" (National Journalism Prize). This was for his contributions to Popular Traditions. Then, in 2003, he was given the "Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes" (National Sciences and Arts Prize). This award was also for his work in Popular Traditions.
In 2007, the government of the Federal District honored Vargas. They recognized him as a Distinguished Citizen. The Estanquillo Museum also showed many of his paintings. This was a special tribute to his art. When he passed away, a full exhibition of La Familia Burrón was on display. This was at a museum in Florence, Italy.
On February 5, 2015, Google celebrated Gabriel Vargas' 100th Birthday. They created a special Google Doodle for him.
See also
In Spanish: Gabriel Vargas (artista) para niños
