Jacques d’Adelswärd-Fersen - The man behind the mirror

The man behind the mirror

Subject:

Clelia De Martino, Dalila Pecoraro, Roberto Maldacena Art, layout and lettering:

Roberto Maldacena Supervision:

Roberta De Martino

The man behind the mirror

INTRODUCTION This comic book is loosely based on the life in Capri of the poet, writer and journalist Jacques d’Adelswärd-Fersen, created on the occasion of the celebrations for the centenary of his death (20 February 1880, Paris - 7 November 1923, Capri) held by the Ápeiron Association and the City of Capri.

The project was born from the collaboration between the young comic book artist Roberto Maldacena and the Cultural Association Ápeiron, in the people of Dalila Pecoraro and Clelia De Martino who joined the author in the choice of sources and topics.

Through the historical figure of Count Fersen, current issues such as homosexuality, mental health, social exclusion and drug addiction are treated.

The aim of this collaboration is to emphasize the importance of these themes and to tell “the man behind the mirror”, the person beyond the appearance, using for the first time the comic book medium. Therefore, 100 years after his death, we hope to lead the new generations to develop a greater sensitivity towards Jacques d’Adelswärd-Fersen, inviting them to go beyond the prejudice that has built around him over the years..

In the hope that this work will give readers a new point of view on the topics covered and on the protagonist, we wish you all enjoy the reading.

Cultural Association Ápeiron

Roberto Maldacena. aka “Maldak,”, born 1991, is a freelance cartoonist and illustrator from Anacapri.

In collaboration with the Municipality of Anacapri, in 2019 he created a comic book dedicated to Swedish doctor Axel Munthe written by Massimo Cerrotta.

Since 2020 he has been collaborating with Capri Review magazine with his comics column “Maldak’s Invisible Island”.

In 2022 he produced a four-panel mini-story about Herman Moll’s old tavern in collaboration with Forum dei Giovani di Anacapri.

He is an active member of the Arcadia Cultural Association, which, through Capri Comics and many other annual activities, spreads the comic book culture on the Island.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCES: •

Amori et Dolori Sacrum - Capri, un’infinita varietà - 1905/1923: l’Isola di Jacques Fersen, Edizioni La Conchiglia (2018)

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Hei Hsiang di Jacques d’Adelswärd-Fersen (1921)

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E il fuoco si spense sul mare di Jacques d’Adelswärd-Fersen (2005)

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Paolo Falco - Violinista e sognatore di Giuseppe de Nicola (2006)

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L’inutile Bellezza di Ada Negri (1926)

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L’esule di Capri di Roger Peyrefitte (2020)

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I misteri di Villa Lysis di Fausto Esposito (1996)

“All those people and yet I felt so empty.

An overwhelming emptiness.”