Georges Pichard

Trained in applied arts, Georges Pichard (1920–2003) first taught graphic arts before turning to comic art later in life. He made his true debut in 1964 in the weekly magazine Chouchou, but it was his meeting with writer Jacques Lob that would set his course: in 1967, Submerman appeared in Pilote, while Blanche Épiphanie—a heroine who defied the moral norms of the time—began her career in V Magazine, sparking a strong public reaction.  

The turning point was reached: Pichard gradually moved away from all-ages comic art toward the erotic world that would make his reputation. Beginning in 1977, he became a full-fledged creator and turned his attention to openly erotic, even pornographic, stories (some of his albums, such as Maison de correction Princesse Mélanie (The Princess Melanie Reform School), remain banned in several countries). Drawing inspiration from Art Nouveau, Robert Crumb, and Sadean imagery, he established himself as one of the leading figures in adult comics of his time, cultivating a fruitful paradox until the very end: applying the most classical precision of line to the most transgressive subjects.