Jean-Jacques Sempé Obituary

Jean-Jacques Sempé was a French cartoonist best known for the Le Petit Nicolas series of children’s books he co-created with René Goscinny, as well as his poster-like illustrations depicting detailed countrysides or cities from a distant or high viewpoint.

According to Marc Lecarpentier, his biographer and friend, Sempé died peacefully a few days before his 90th birthday on August 11 2022,  surrounded by his wife and friends.

In his writings about the cartoonist, Lecarpentier described Sempé as “an amused and disconcerted observer of the world around him” who examined the human soul by exploiting the “disproportion of situations and roles” of his characters or their thoughts and comments.

Sempé was born in the village of Pessac near Bordeaux in 1932. His career began in France, as part of the Franco-Belgian comics industry. In 1952, he received his first award, which is given to encourage young amateur artists to become professionals.

Sempé was also well-known for his magazine illustrations. He illustrated over 110 New Yorker covers, continued to work for Paris Match, and had his work displayed in Paris.