Caran d'Ache
Encyclopedia
Caran d'Ache was the pseudonym
of the 19th century French
satirist
and political cartoonist
Emmanuel Poiré. "Caran d'Ache" comes from the Russian
word karandash (карандаш), meaning pencil
(of Turkic
origin; "karadash" meaning black stone — used for writing on a "karatash" meaning black slate). While his first work glorified the Napoleonic era
, he went on to create "stories without words" and as a contributor to newspapers such as the Lundi du Figaro, he is sometimes hailed as one of the precursors of comic strips. The Swiss art products company Caran d'Ache
is named after him.
Born in Moscow
, 6 November 1858, he was the grandson of an Officer-Grenadier in Napoleon
's Grande Armée who, wounded during the Battle of Borodino
, had stayed behind in Russia. After his grandfather's death he was adopted by a Polish family whose daughter he later married.
In 1877 Caran d'Ache emigrated to France where he took French citizenship and joined the Army
for five years where he was assigned to design uniforms for the ministry of war and where he also contributed to their journal, La Vie militaire, with satirical illustrations, among them some caricatures of the German
army.
He died in Paris on 26 February 1909 at the age of 50.
With fellow cartoonist Forain, he founded Psst... !, a magazine that lasted 85 numbers entirely composed of cartoons by Caran d'Ache and Forain, caricaturing the society and its scandals, showing violent antisemitism and also defending the French army's honor.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of the 19th century French
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...
satirist
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
and political cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
Emmanuel Poiré. "Caran d'Ache" comes from the Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
word karandash (карандаш), meaning pencil
Pencil
A pencil is a writing implement or art medium usually constructed of a narrow, solid pigment core inside a protective casing. The case prevents the core from breaking, and also from marking the user’s hand during use....
(of Turkic
Turkic languages
The Turkic languages constitute a language family of at least thirty five languages, spoken by Turkic peoples across a vast area from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean to Siberia and Western China, and are considered to be part of the proposed Altaic language family.Turkic languages are spoken...
origin; "karadash" meaning black stone — used for writing on a "karatash" meaning black slate). While his first work glorified the Napoleonic era
Napoleonic Era
The Napoleonic Era is a period in the history of France and Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, the first being the National Assembly, the second being the Legislative Assembly, and the third being the Directory...
, he went on to create "stories without words" and as a contributor to newspapers such as the Lundi du Figaro, he is sometimes hailed as one of the precursors of comic strips. The Swiss art products company Caran d'Ache
Caran d'Ache (company)
-History:It was founded in Geneva in 1924 when Arnold Schweitzer purchased the Ecridor Pencil Factory. Schweitzer named his new company after Caran d'Ache, the nickname of a French satiric political cartoonist from Russia...
is named after him.
Biography
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, 6 November 1858, he was the grandson of an Officer-Grenadier in Napoleon
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
's Grande Armée who, wounded during the Battle of Borodino
Battle of Borodino
The Battle of Borodino , fought on September 7, 1812, was the largest and bloodiest single-day action of the French invasion of Russia and all Napoleonic Wars, involving more than 250,000 troops and resulting in at least 70,000 casualties...
, had stayed behind in Russia. After his grandfather's death he was adopted by a Polish family whose daughter he later married.
In 1877 Caran d'Ache emigrated to France where he took French citizenship and joined the Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
for five years where he was assigned to design uniforms for the ministry of war and where he also contributed to their journal, La Vie militaire, with satirical illustrations, among them some caricatures of the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
army.
He died in Paris on 26 February 1909 at the age of 50.
Works
- 1880: His first drawings of military caricatures were published in Le Chronique Parisienne.
- 1892: Caran d'Ache published Carnet de Chèques ("Checkbook") on the Panama Canal AffairPanama scandalsThe Panama scandals was a corruption affair that broke out in the French Third Republic in 1892, linked to the building of the Panama Canal...
. - 1895: He started publishing editorial cartoons (every Monday) in the daily Le FigaroLe FigaroLe Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
, and soon thereafter for the popular weekly Le RireLe RireLe Rire, or "Laughter," was a successful humor magazine published from October 1894 through the 1950s. Founded in Paris during the Belle Époque by Felix Juven, Le Rire appeared as typical Parisians began to achieve more education, income and leisure time. Interest in the arts, culture and politics...
. - 1898: Émile ZolaÉmile ZolaÉmile 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...
published J'Accuse, which brought the Dreyfus AffairDreyfus AffairThe Dreyfus affair was a political scandal that divided France in the 1890s and the early 1900s. It involved the conviction for treason in November 1894 of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a young French artillery officer of Alsatian Jewish descent...
into the spotlight.
With fellow cartoonist Forain, he founded Psst... !, a magazine that lasted 85 numbers entirely composed of cartoons by Caran d'Ache and Forain, caricaturing the society and its scandals, showing violent antisemitism and also defending the French army's honor.
External links
- Caran d'Ache biography on Lambiek Comiclopedia