Forty-five years after the death of Rene Goscinny, The little Nicolas finds himself permanently orphaned. And for good reason, its other creator, the designer Jean-Jacques Sempe died at the age of 89 this Thursday, August 11, 2022. His death was announced by his wife Martine Gossieaux Sempé to AFP. And for his biographer Marc Lecarpentier to specify: “The cartoonist Jean-Jacques Sempé died peacefully this evening (…) in his holiday residence, surrounded by his wife and close friends“.
Sempé had distinguished himself as a draftsman since the 1950s. In addition to his success for The little Nicolashe also met some for his humorous and poetic sketches for prestigious newspapers around the world, including The New Yorker, Paris Match and L’Express.
The artist was far from predestined to such a career during his youth. Coming from a very modest family from Pessac, near Bordeaux, Sempé evolved in the violence of his mother with a stuttering condition. But resourceful after leaving school at 14, he began to send his first drawings. And when he came of age, he met René Goscinny, who became his great accomplice. He wrote the adventures of Nicolas, created in 1959, while Sempé drew them. The character’s stories have sold some 15 million copies. Film adaptations have confirmed interest in the endearing little man.
The disappearance of the designer therefore naturally affected many personalities, from all walks of life. President Emmanuel Macron notably split a tribute on social networks, accompanied by the last drawing published by the artist. “Jazz, tender irony, delicacy of intelligence, jazz: we cannot forget Jean-Jacques Sempé. His gaze and his pencil will be sorely missed. From Petit Nicolas to Monsieur Lambert, to the walkers of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, he had the elegance to always remain light without anything escaping him.“, he wrote.