Frits Klein was a Frisian artist from Heerenveen, who had been working for local daily newspapers since 1946. In 1946 and 1947, he made the comic strip 'Bokke Heidehipper' under the name Chris Klein with writer Geert Jonkman for De Heerenveensche Koerier. Two books were published in 1947. Klein opened the first advertising studio in Frisia, and designed logos and ad campaigns for brands like Nieuwe Weme, CAF and Batavus. He has also made cover illustrations for books, murals, sculptures and stained glass windows, and designs for ships and gardens.
Bokke Heidehipper (Heerenveensche Koerier, 21 December 1946)
Klein is best-known for his drawings of a little farmer that accompanied the weather announcements in the regional paper Friese Koerier from 20 September 1952. The character was eventually named 'Gurbe', and got a prominent spot on page 2 of the Leeuwarder Courant, the daily paper that fused with Friese Koerier in 1969. Gurbe and his wife Loltsje commented on the news, and remained in the paper until their author's death in April 2016, at the age of 91.
Gurbe (Leeuwarder Courant, 24 December 1980)