Inspiration and Design
Terriers were a popular breed of dogs during the late 1920s and early 1930s. They were known for their intelligence and character, two traits which are also reflected in Snowy. He was inspired by various breeds of terriers, most closely the Wire Fox Terrier. A pure white fox terrier is highly unusual, as most have patches of color. Hergé always draws Snowy at particular angles, usually three-quarters-on to align his expressions with the panel. Snowy's size in comparison with Tintin and other humans varies between strips.
Hergé never had a dog in his family until his last years, but in 1929 was a regular at a café where the owner had a terrier—a major source of inspiration for Snowy. The French name Milou is a portmanteau of Marie-Louise, the nickname of Hergé's first girlfriend, Marie-Louise Van Cutsem. Their relationship dwindled because of her father's disapproval of Hergé's low social class, but Hergé remained fond of her and chose the name for Tintin's most trusted friend. The English name Snowy was chosen to reflect the dog's color.
Read more about this topic: Snowy (character)
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