Georges Pichard
Encyclopedia
Georges Pichard was a French
comics artist
, known for numerous BD magazine
covers, serial publications and albums, stereotypically featuring partially exposed voluptuous women.
A native of Paris
, he was educated at the École des Arts Appliques, and after World War II
worked as illustrator in advertising before publishing his first cartoon strip in La Semaine de Suzette in 1956, featuring a "girl next-door" character named Miss Mimi.
In the early 60s he met Jacques Lob
, with whom he collaborated on the superhero
parodies, Ténébrax and Submerman. Ténébrax was first published in the short-lived comics magazine
Chouchou, and continued its serial run in Italian magazine Linus
. In 1967, Submerman was serialised in Pilote
, but after a few years Pichard left the family friendly comics genre entirely.
Having collaborated with Danie Dubos on the more daring Lolly-strip which was serialised in Le Rire in 1966, Pichard and Lob began work within the erotic genre of comics as Blanche Épiphanie started serial publication in V Magazine in 1968. There was significant public reaction as this character acted outside the moral boundaries of the times, and at one point emulated Jane Fonda
by going to Vietnam
. This period saw Pichard develop his style of shaping his female heroines into tall, well-endowed women with excessive eyeliner make-up to create a gothic
appearance.
Pichard continued to push the moral boundaries when he collaborated with Georges Wolinski
to create a yet more controversial series featuring an eponymous character, Paulette which began serial publication in Charlie Mensuel
in 1970. This development became a target of right-wing politicians of that period, Jean Royer and Michel Debre
. Continuing in this genre, Pichard reunited with Danie Dubos to produce Caroline Choléra which was serialised in L'Écho des savanes
in 1975. Upon publication of Marie-Gabrielle de Saint-Eutrope in 1977, the explicit nature of Pichard's work led to a ban from bookshops and kiosks.
Less scrutinized for its erotic emphasis are the collaborations Pichard did with science-fiction author Jean-Pierre Andrevon
, La Reserve and Édouard from 1974 and Ceux–là from 1977, published in Charlie Mensuel.
Toward the end of his life, Pichard adapted classic erotic stories such as Les Exploits d'un jeune Don Juan by Guillaume Apollinaire
, The Kama-Sutra
by Vatsyayana
, Trois filles de leur mère by Pierre Louÿs
, La Religieuse
by Denis Diderot
and Germinal by Emile Zola
.
Footnotes
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
comics artist
Comics artist
A comics artist is an artist working within the comics medium on comic strips, comic books or graphic novels. The term may refer to any number of artists who contribute to produce a work in the comics form, from those who oversee all aspects of the work to those who contribute only a part.-Comic...
, known for numerous BD magazine
Franco-Belgian comics magazines
Belgium and France have a long tradition in comics. They have a common history for comics and magazines.In the early years of its history, magazines had a large place on the comics market and were often the only place where comics were published. Most of them were kids-targeted.In the 1970s,...
covers, serial publications and albums, stereotypically featuring partially exposed voluptuous women.
Biography
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he was educated at the École des Arts Appliques, and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
worked as illustrator in advertising before publishing his first cartoon strip in La Semaine de Suzette in 1956, featuring a "girl next-door" character named Miss Mimi.
In the early 60s he met Jacques Lob
Jacques Lob
Jacques Lob was a French comic book creator, known for several Franco-Belgian comics creations, but most famously Superdupont.-Biography:...
, with whom he collaborated on the superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
parodies, Ténébrax and Submerman. Ténébrax was first published in the short-lived comics magazine
Franco-Belgian comics magazines
Belgium and France have a long tradition in comics. They have a common history for comics and magazines.In the early years of its history, magazines had a large place on the comics market and were often the only place where comics were published. Most of them were kids-targeted.In the 1970s,...
Chouchou, and continued its serial run in Italian magazine Linus
Linus (magazine)
Linus is an Italian comics magazine. The first number was published in April 1965 by Milano Libri, a subsidiary of Rizzoli. It is currently published by Baldini & Castoldi in monthly issues....
. In 1967, Submerman was serialised in Pilote
Pilote
thumb|Cover of the first Pilote teaser issue, #0.Pilote was a French comics periodical published from 1959 to 1989. Showcasing most of the major French or Belgian comics talents of its day the magazine introduced major series such as Astérix le Gaulois, Blueberry, Achille Talon, and Valérian et...
, but after a few years Pichard left the family friendly comics genre entirely.
Having collaborated with Danie Dubos on the more daring Lolly-strip which was serialised in Le Rire in 1966, Pichard and Lob began work within the erotic genre of comics as Blanche Épiphanie started serial publication in V Magazine in 1968. There was significant public reaction as this character acted outside the moral boundaries of the times, and at one point emulated Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda is an American actress, writer, political activist, former fashion model, and fitness guru. She rose to fame in the 1960s with films such as Barbarella and Cat Ballou. She has won two Academy Awards and received several other movie awards and nominations during more than 50 years as an...
by going to Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. This period saw Pichard develop his style of shaping his female heroines into tall, well-endowed women with excessive eyeliner make-up to create a gothic
Goth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
appearance.
Pichard continued to push the moral boundaries when he collaborated with Georges Wolinski
Georges Wolinski
Georges Wolinski is a French cartoonist and comics writer.-Biography:After discontinuing his architecture studies in Paris, Georges Wolinski began cartooning in 1960, contributing political and erotic cartoons and comic strips to the satirical monthly Hara-Kiri.During the student revolts of May...
to create a yet more controversial series featuring an eponymous character, Paulette which began serial publication in Charlie Mensuel
Charlie Mensuel
Charlie Mensuel was a French monthly comics magazine. Its publication began in February 1969, and ceased in February 1986.-History:...
in 1970. This development became a target of right-wing politicians of that period, Jean Royer and Michel Debre
Michel Debré
Michel Jean-Pierre Debré was a French Gaullist politician. He is considered the "father" of the current Constitution of France, and was the first Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic...
. Continuing in this genre, Pichard reunited with Danie Dubos to produce Caroline Choléra which was serialised in L'Écho des savanes
L'Écho des savanes
L’Écho des Savanes is a French comics magazine founded in May 1972 by Claire Bretécher, Marcel Gotlib and Nikita Mandryka. It featured the work of French and international authors and graphic artists in mature-oriented comics over the course of 34 years, but temporarily ended publication in...
in 1975. Upon publication of Marie-Gabrielle de Saint-Eutrope in 1977, the explicit nature of Pichard's work led to a ban from bookshops and kiosks.
Less scrutinized for its erotic emphasis are the collaborations Pichard did with science-fiction author Jean-Pierre Andrevon
Jean-Pierre Andrevon
Jean-Pierre Andrevon is a French science fiction author. He has used the pseudonym Alphonse Brutsche for novels published under the Fleuve Noir label. In addition to his regular authorship, he has written scenarios for several prominent comics artists, among others Georges Pichard and Caza,...
, La Reserve and Édouard from 1974 and Ceux–là from 1977, published in Charlie Mensuel.
Toward the end of his life, Pichard adapted classic erotic stories such as Les Exploits d'un jeune Don Juan by Guillaume Apollinaire
Guillaume Apollinaire
Wilhelm Albert Włodzimierz Apolinary Kostrowicki, known as Guillaume Apollinaire was a French poet, playwright, short story writer, novelist, and art critic born in Italy to a Polish mother....
, The Kama-Sutra
Kama Sutra
The Kama Sutra is an ancient Indian Hindu text widely considered to be the standard work on human sexual behavior in Sanskrit literature written by Vātsyāyana. A portion of the work consists of practical advice on sexual intercourse. It is largely in prose, with many inserted anustubh poetry verses...
by Vatsyayana
Vatsyayana
Vātsyāyana is the name of a Hindu philosopher in the Vedic tradition who is believed to have lived during time of the Gupta Empire in India...
, Trois filles de leur mère by Pierre Louÿs
Pierre Louÿs
Pierre Louÿs was a French poet and writer, most renowned for lesbian and classical themes in some of his writings. He is known as a writer who "expressed pagan sensuality with stylistic perfection."-Life:...
, La Religieuse
La Religieuse
La Religieuse is an 18th century French novel by Denis Diderot. Completed in about 1780, the work was not published until 1796, after Diderot's death...
by Denis Diderot
Denis Diderot
Denis Diderot was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer. He was a prominent person during the Enlightenment and is best known for serving as co-founder and chief editor of and contributor to the Encyclopédie....
and Germinal by Emile Zola
Émile Zola
Émile François Zola was a French writer, the most important exemplar of the literary school of naturalism and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism...
.
Sources
- Georges Pichard publications in Pilote, Charlie Mensuel, L'Écho des Savanes and Circus BDoubliées
- Georges Pichard albums Bedetheque
Footnotes
External links
- Georges Pichard biography on Lambiek Comiclopedia