temporary exhibition

BD is an abbreviation of the French phrase "Bande Dessinée." These words translate literally to "drawn strip," or the more familiar "comic strip."

The history of BD can be traced back to the end of the 19th century and the American tradition of Sunday newspaper comics.

Today, BD come mostly in book-form "albums" with a fixed format: full color, 48 pages, and hard binding. The design and stories of these comic books fascinate adults and children alike.

One of the primary attractions of BD is the vibrant coloration made possible by advances in printing technology. Improvements in BD and other print expression will go hand in hand with further advances in platemaking technology.

The current exhibit is divided into three sections featuring a total of 28 titles. Besides the albums, the exhibit includes the newspapers and magazines that influenced BD early on, along with original illustrations and plates for the featured comics.