Németh Laura

Institute of Theoretical Studies / Art and Design Theory BA
thesis consultant
Kissné Budai Rita
thesis opponent
Földi Eszter
thesis

The theoretical and practical process of the illustration and publication of children’s Bibles in the past 10 years in Hungary

In my thesis I examine the impact of image-text relations in children’s Bibles published in the past 10 years in Hungary, focusing, as a case study, on a specific series: the five volumes published by the Csimota Kiadó publishing house between 2017 and 2023. Norbert Nagy’s book design and drawings and Eszter Szokács’s text diverge from texts and illustrations in books published by Christian denominations. The interviews in the thesis reveal that the images are not primarily intended to appeal to children, the creators’ intent was to present biblical stories that are significantly represented in European art history in an easy-to-comprehend and relatable way to children. Eszter Szokács’s series is not only a source of cultural history for children or a message that brings them closer to God, it is also a functional object: with the high quality of the illustration and of the visual appearance of the text, it can be considered a design object. Through the activities of Csimota Kiadó, I can present the visually innovative non-denominational Bible series of a smaller Hungarian publishing house, which is different from their usual repertoire, yet it is an immensely valuable addition to Hungarian children’s Bibles. I also mention that publishing in this subject is a highly divisive and therefore brave undertaking these days.