Dick Bruna
He created Miffy, a deceptively simple bunny whose clean lines and gentle stories charmed millions of children worldwide.
1927–2017 (age 90)·Dutch author and artist·Birthday: August 23·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Dick Bruna's art was an exercise in elegant reduction. The son of a Dutch publishing family, he resisted joining the business and briefly trained to be a publisher in London and Paris, where he fell under the spell of Matisse and Léger. Returning home, he began designing book covers for the family firm, developing a distinctive style of bold colors and heavy black outlines. In 1955, while telling his young son a story about a rabbit they'd seen on holiday, he sketched a small, round-faced creature. That bunny, named Miffy (Nijntje in Dutch), became a global phenomenon. With just two dots for eyes and a cross for a mouth, Miffy expressed a universe of emotion. Bruna authored over 120 books, each page a carefully composed scene of minimalist graphic design, proving that profound warmth and simplicity could coexist.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Dick was born in 1927, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1927
#1 Movie
Wings
Dick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1927Born
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1932Started school
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1940Became a teenager
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1943Could drive
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1945Could vote
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1948Turned 21
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1957Turned 30
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 40
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 50
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 60
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 70
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 80
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Died at 90
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
Key Achievements
- Created Miffy (Nijntje), a character featured in over 120 picture books translated into more than 50 languages.
- Designed over 2,000 book covers for the family publishing house, A.W. Bruna & Zoon.
- Awarded the Golden Paintbrush prize for Dutch children's literature multiple times.
- His work has been exhibited in major museums, including the Rijksmuseum and the Centre Pompidou.
Did You Know?
He drew Miffy using only primary colors (red, blue, yellow) plus green and black.
He was a conscientious objector during his military service and worked with the Red Cross.
He designed posters for the publishing house that are now considered collector's items.
The Miffy museum in Utrecht is called 'nijntje museum' (using the Dutch name).
“I leave out everything that is not necessary.”
