Tignous

Tignous
Georges Seguin (Okki) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Bernard Verlhac
Pen name	Tignous
Birth date	21 August 1957
Birth place	Paris
Death date	7 January 2015
Death place	Paris
Occupation	Cartoonist, illustrator, satirist
Nationality	French
Notable works	Charlie Hebdo covers, Cabu et Plantu collaborations

Tignous was a French political cartoonist and illustrator known for his work in satirical publications and newspapers. He contributed to prominent periodicals and collaborated with a wide range of writers, editors, and artists across France and Europe. His cartoons often addressed contemporary events, public figures, and institutions with sharp satire and distinctive drawing.

Early life and education

Born in Paris, Tignous grew up during the post-war period that saw the rise of figures such as Charles de Gaulle, François Mitterrand, and Georges Pompidou. He attended local schools in Seine-Saint-Denis before pursuing art influences from illustrators like Honoré Daumier, Georges Wolinski, and Cabu (Jean Cabut). Early exposure to publications such as Le Canard enchaîné, Hara-Kiri, and Pilote (magazine) informed his visual education alongside contemporaries from institutions like École des Beaux-Arts and Académie Julian.

Cartooning career

Tignous began publishing cartoons in the 1980s in outlets including Charlie Mensuel, Fluide Glacial, and L'Écho des Savanes. He worked with editors and journalists from Libération, Le Monde, France Inter, and Le Figaro Magazine, contributing illustrations and political commentary. Over decades he collaborated with cartoonists such as Plantu, Cabu, Wolinski (Georges Wolinski), Riss (Laurent Sourisseau), and agencies like Agence France-Presse and Sipa Press. His career intersected with events such as the May 1968 protests legacy, debates around the European Union, and electoral contests featuring figures like Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy, and François Hollande.

Work at Charlie Hebdo

Tignous was a regular contributor to Charlie Hebdo, joining a staff that included Georges Wolinski, Cabu (Jean Cabut), Charb (Stéphane Charbonnier), and Philippe Val. At Charlie Hebdo, he produced weekly cartoons, cover illustrations, and participated in editorial meetings alongside editors from publications like Libération and Le Canard enchaîné. The magazine’s history ties to earlier titles such as Hara-Kiri and figures like François Cavanna and Georges Bernier (Professeur Choron). His role involved responding to crises that engaged institutions such as Conseil d'État and debates around legislation like laws impacting press freedom during presidencies of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and Emmanuel Macron.

Publications and books

Tignous illustrated and co-authored books published by houses such as Dargaud, Flammarion, Les Éditions du Seuil, and L'Association (publisher). His collected cartoons appeared in anthologies alongside works by Cabu, Plantu, Wolinski (Georges Wolinski), and Riss (Laurent Sourisseau). He contributed to thematic volumes about figures like Pablo Picasso, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir and to compilations addressing events such as the Iraq War, Kosovo War, and the Eurozone crisis. Tignous also collaborated on illustrated reports about regions including Balkans, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Middle East with journalists connected to Le Monde Diplomatique and Mediapart.

Artistic style and themes

His drawing style showed affinities with caricaturists like Honoré Daumier, Cyril Pedrosa, and Jean-Jacques Sempé, combining line economy and expressive gestures. Themes in his work engaged public figures including Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, and Donald Trump as well as cultural icons such as Serge Gainsbourg, Brigitte Bardot, and Françoise Sagan. He tackled institutional subjects involving European Commission, NATO, United Nations, and events like the 2008 financial crisis and the Arab Spring. His visual language referenced artistic movements and persons including Cubism, Pablo Picasso, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and commentators from Cahiers du Cinéma.

Political activism and controversies

Tignous was involved in debates about freedom of expression alongside colleagues from Reporters Without Borders, Syndicat National des Journalistes, and organizations such as SOS Racisme and Human Rights Watch. His cartoons sometimes provoked legal and political responses involving institutions like Conseil constitutionnel and sparked controversies similar to those that affected Jyllands-Posten, Die Welt, and The New York Times over publication of sensitive imagery. He participated in benefit projects and public demonstrations with groups including Attac (France), Vérité pour Adama, and trade unions like Confédération générale du travail and Solidaires. Debates around secularism and laïcité connected to public controversies involving Charlie Hebdo and legal challenges overseen by bodies such as Cour de cassation.

Death and legacy

Tignous was killed in the attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris on 7 January 2015, alongside colleagues including Charb (Stéphane Charbonnier), Cabu (Jean Cabut), Wolinski (Georges Wolinski), and Bernard Maris. The attack prompted global reactions from leaders such as François Hollande, Barack Obama, David Cameron, Angela Merkel, and institutions including United Nations General Assembly, European Parliament, and Human Rights Watch. Memorials and tributes occurred in locations such as Place de la République, Pantheon (Paris), and cities like London, Berlin, Rome, and New York City. His legacy is preserved in retrospectives at museums and institutions including Musée d'Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Bibliothèque nationale de France, and galleries associated with publishers such as Flammarion and Dargaud. His influence continues among cartoonists like Plantu, Cabu, Riss (Laurent Sourisseau), and new generations appearing in outlets such as Charlie Hebdo, Libération, Le Monde, and Le Canard enchaîné.

Category:French cartoonists Category:2015 deaths