Analyzing The Art Style In Alan Moore's From Hell

From Hell is a graphic novel by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell; it is about the infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper. The novel depicts details about the Whitechapel killings in the Victorian era of London as well as speculating who Jack the Ripper actually was and the underlying motives. The art style that From Hell is depicted in is a combination of the naturalistic and cartoon modes. The naturalistic mode is just how it sounds, the art style in the comic book, or graphic novel, is similar to that of the real world. The art style is representational to the real world instead of a highly stylized form. Naturalistic mode art styles are normally used in comic books, and comic strips that continue along a single storyline, which depict stories of romance and adventure. The cartoon mode is an art style that is highly stylized and non-representational. The cartoon mode art style, also known as caricature, is a style that greatly exaggerates a part of a person’s body or features. Cartoon mode art style is normally used in comics where slapstick comedy, a style that involves exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the normal physical boundaries, and verbal humor (Witek, Smith, and Duncan). …show more content…
The figures in From Hell have a naturalistic mode art style because of the way they are depicted. The figures are anatomically correct without any feature or body part being greatly exaggerated. The background details like the brick buildings are also in the naturalistic mode art style because enough detail is shown to let the reader know that the brick building is in fact a brick building without having anything being cartoonish looking. The line work contained within the panels in From Hell also show the naturalistic art style because again, it shows enough detail to let the reader know what it is without being overly