politics

Tomorrow everything will be over (thank god), we’ll get to know who is France’s new flashy president… Flamby le petit calumniateur our Monsieur BlingBling le pov’con. Both of them are just as good or bad for France, although this is arguable. Although…. not everything will be completely over coss just in a few weeks they’ll be back with the legislative elections….

"When I laugh at Sarkozy they retweet me much more... I should reaffirm my left-wing support" Integrite - Image by Joann Sfar

Our admired Joann Sfar (you know… Gainsbourg, Rabbi’s cat) has been tweeting and drawing quite intensively over the past few days pre and post Sarkozy-Hollande TV debate with some great political cartoon hits that summarize pretty well the political campaign.

"I don't understand why that was shocking! It's not my fault if the Maghreb is full of arabs" Sarko apres le debat - drawing by Joann Sfar

But above all discussions, satires and cartoon irony Joann is very right about one thing… if Sarkozy leaves tomorrow… there will be soooooooo many French cartoonists and humorists (think Canal + Guignols above all) will go into mourning… the rest of his prolific political cartoons (and many of his previous doodles) are available on-line on his twitter photostream.

Depart de Sarkozy - drawing by Joann Sfar

Liberal, charming, well-educated and exquisitely respectful, that’s how many will remember Antonio Mingote‘s artwork, but also his persona, character and image.

We finally have simultaneous translation in the senate - find the 7 differences - Mingote

The Catalan-born, Madrilian-adopted legend who died last Tuesday was considered by many the most successful cartoonist in Spain, whose contemporary history couldn’t really be understood without him. 80 years dedicated to the art of political & social satire and whose tramps, bourgeois young men and easily-shocked women have covered one of the oldest Spanish newspapers (ABC) for over 59 years.

Mingote - 1962 drawing related to the NASA expeditions — Mingote - 1962 - drawing related to the NASA expeditions

Being 13, in 1932 he published his very first drawing on the ABC-supplement Black&White, prior to joining the newspaper in 1953 for a long & fruitful relationship… he even got to draw many covers for the Madrid-based publication, something rarely seen on Spanish newspapers.

When arriving to the capital (in 1944) he quickly became friend with Rafael Azcona who introduced him to the most successful humor publication at that time: La Codorniz. And even if he had a promising career within the army, as soon as he could live from his drawings he didn’t hesitate to leave it. After collaborating with other local publications and signing with ABC he definitely made the jump in 1954.

Mingote - Translators - Dad and mom speak each their own autonomic language, how about I play to be their translator and we laugh a lot

Needless to mention the large number of awards, novels (also some graphic ones) and even a 1978 film he produced during his career, Spanish cartoonism is a little bit emptier now.

Mingote - They're taking down all Franco-related statues, hopefully we don't have to remind we were here before — Mingote - They're taking down all Franco-related statues, hopefully we don't have to remind them we were here before

Joann Sfar’s take on French presidential election

RIP Mingote