Co-creator with René Goscinny of the famous comic strip called Le Petit Nicolas, the designer Jean-Jacques Sempé died at the age of 89 on Thursday August 11, 2022, as his last wife announced to AFP.
While he was soon to celebrate his 90th birthday on August 17, 2022the famous cartoonist Jean-Jacques Sempé, to whom we owe the cult comic strip of Little Nicholasdied Thursday, August 11, 2022, at the age of 89. The former sidekick of the late Rene Goscinny passed away surrounded by his loved onesas announced by his last wife, Martine Gossieaux Sempé, in a statement sent to theAFP. The French press agency also relayed the first words of the friend and biographer of Jean-Jacques Sempé, Marc Lecarpentierfollowing the announcement of the disappearance of the designer.
The latter specified that Jean-Jacques Sempé is dead “in his 89th year, in his holiday residence, surrounded by his wife and close friends“. Having left school at the age of 14, the one who was simply nicknamed Sempé was one of the most recognized designers of his generation. His work has notably inspired the various works of many of his colleagues.. It was after having multiplied odd jobs that Jean-Jacques Sempé managed to publish his first drawing at the age of 19. Over the years, he will collaborate with various press titles, thus allowing him to impose his style.
Jean-Jacques Sempé: “Le Petit Nicolas is first and foremost a story of friendship”
“Drawing humor is an absolute luxury. I am sensitive to the notion of original. I’m thrilled to imagine people being happy to own my designs the same way I’m blessed to own mine“, declared Jean-Jacques Sempé during an interview granted to Home side few years ago. In the 1950s, the cartoonist formed an iconic duo with the late screenwriter René Goscinny, especially after they co-created together The little Nicolas. “Le Petit Nicolas is first and foremost a story of friendship. We shared our childhood memories. I told René my stories of football, summer camps, my heckling at school. And René Goscinny loved interpreting these memories. Starting from what I was saying, he embroidered all around, invented all the characters, imagined situations“, he had indicated on this subject.
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JEAN-JACQUES SEMPE
JEAN-JACQUES SEMPE AT THE 32ND BOOK SALON, PORTE DE VERSAILLES, IN PARIS. MARCH 18, 2012
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Laurent Tirard, Anne Goscinny, Christophe Girard, Jean-Jacques Sempé and Kad Merad
Laurent Tirard, Anne Goscinny, Christophe Girard, Jean-Jacques Sempé and Kad Merad at the opening of the exhibition “Les vacances du petit Nicolas” at the town hall of the 4th arrondissement in Paris on June 18, 2014.
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Anne Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempé
Anne Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempé at the opening of the exhibition “Les vacances du petit Nicolas” at the town hall of the 4th arrondissement in Paris on June 18, 2014.
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Jean-Jacques Sempe
Jean-Jacques Sempé in a signing session during the opening of the exhibition “Les vacances du petit Nicolas” at the town hall of the 4th arrondissement in Paris on June 18, 2014.
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Jean-Jacques Sempe
Jean-Jacques Sempé at the 33rd Book Fair at the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Center in Paris, March 17, 2016.
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JEAN-JACQUES SEMPE
JEAN JACQUES SEMPE DURING THE RECORDING OF THE EMISSION VIVEMENT DIMANCHE
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Jean-Jacques Sempe
Jean-Jacques Sempé on the red carpet of the Cabourg film festival on June 16, 2018.
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Jean-Jacques Sempe
Jean-Jacques Sempé on the red carpet of the Cabourg film festival on June 16, 2018.
© Coadic Guirec / Bestimage
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Jean-Jacques Sempé and Anne Hidalgo
Jean-Jacques Sempé and Anne Hidalgo during the inauguration of a fresco by Jean-Jacques Sempé on the side of a building on rue Froissart in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris on February 16, 2019.
© Pierre Perusseau/Bestimage
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Jean-Jacques Sempé and his wife
Jean-Jacques Sempé and his wife at the inauguration of the statue of René Goscinny in the 16th arrondissement in Paris. January 23, 2020
© Coadic Guirec / Bestimage