French Gag Cartoons Circa 1956

Above: How do you sell cartoons in Europe with all of those language differences? You draw wordless cartoons! Guy Bara shows us, in 5 panels, a whole story wherein the balance of power is shifted.

Here are some cartoons from BEST CARTOONS FROM ABROAD 1956, edited by Lawrence Lariar and Ben Roth and copyright the same year.


And I read PLAYBOY for the cartoons!



Hervé gives us an artist cartoon. There used to be all sorts of artist cartoons; artists painting models, artists wearing berets, artists chasing models, etc.


Above: Hervé once more, with a very odd tattoo. There are, however, 52 years later, still relationships like this.

Above: Hervé could sell this one today.



Above: Leon with a topical cartoon regarding obesity! I like the fellow's grin. Just makes it for me. That's a blissful expression.



Above (and the rest of these below): the one and only Sempé, who is still producing work for The New Yorker. I like to think that the bearded fellow, casually sketching the impatient crowd outside, is Sempé himself.

"Yes, this is really Treasure Island. It is I who made the plan. I AM the treasure."

This woman's speech is funny -- and it's a rare Sempé cartoon where we have even one line of dialog, much less three.


Above and below: a couple of wordless multi-panel playlets. Sempé is one of my all-time favorites.