SAINT OGAN Alain (1895 - 1974) - Lot 191

SAINT OGAN Alain (1895 - 1974) Zig et Puce One-page gag Au théâtre, published in Dimanche Illustré, April 30, 1933 India ink and gouache Rustines collés Signed and dedicated lower right 43 x 31 cm (view) Expert : Florian Bourguet expertises Resale rights payable by the buyer NOTICE Alain Saint-Ogan (1895-1974) was a French cartoonist, screenwriter and comic strip author, considered one of the pioneers of the comic strip in France. Born in Colombes, France, Saint-Ogan is best known for creating "Zig et Puce" in 1925, one of the first French comic strips to gain widespread popularity and establish visual and narrative codes that would influence Franco-Belgian comics. "Zig et Puce", published in Dimanche Illustré, features two young boys, Zig and Puce, accompanied by their pet penguin Alfred. The trio's humorous, offbeat adventures take them around the world on a wild ride. This series marked the history of comics by introducing the phylactery, or dialogue bubble, which until then had been little used in France. The immediate success of "Zig et Puce" made Saint-Ogan an author to be reckoned with, and influenced many subsequent authors, including Tintin creator Hergé, who often cited Saint-Ogan as a source of inspiration. In addition to "Zig et Puce", Alain Saint-Ogan created several other series, including "Mitou et Toti" and "Prosper l'ours", cementing his reputation as an innovative and entertaining author. His works, aimed mainly at children, are distinguished by their light-hearted humor, adventure stories and simple, effective graphic style, reminiscent of newspaper cartoons. Saint-Ogan also played an important role in the spread of comics in France, as a radio host, journalist and art director. He promoted the idea that comics could be a narrative art form in their own right, while remaining accessible to the general public. Although his style evolved over the decades, and the impact of his work gradually diminished after the Second World War, Alain Saint-Ogan remains a major figure in the history of European comics. His graphic and narrative innovations, as well as his influence on generations of authors, have helped establish comics as an artistic medium in its own right.