Le dessin d'humour

Le dessin d'humour: Histoire de la caricature et du dessin humoristique en France (1960) is a major historical and critical study by renowned French art critic, historian, and writer Michel Ragon, published by Éditions Fayard (and later updated for Seuil's Point Virgule series).Key HighlightsHistorical Evolution: The book traces the origins and development of satirical art, caricature, and visual humor in France, examining how graphic wit evolved from early political broadsheets and 19th-century satirical press (L'Assiette au Beurre, Daumier, Gavarni) to mid-20th-century gag cartooning.Master Cartoonists & Styles: Ragon analyzes the techniques, social impact, and artistic significance of prominent illustrators and press cartoonists (such as Siné, Chaval, Jean Bosc, Sempé, Maurice Henry, and Dubout), distinguishing pure gag humor (dessin d'humour) from biting political satire (caricature).Sociocultural Criticism: Beyond a simple chronicle of drawings, the study explores humor as a b