Alexander Scott
Jean Maurice Jules Cabut (13 January 1938 – 7 January 2015), known worldwide by his pen name Cabu ([pronounced Kaby]), was a French cartoonist, caricaturist, and comic strip artist. One of France’s most beloved and influential satirical illustrators, he helped shape the country’s modern tradition of political and social cartooning.
A founding member of Hara-Kiri and a cornerstone of Charlie Hebdo and Le Canard enchaîné, Cabu’s work combined elegance, irony, and fierce humanism. His characters—especially Le Grand Duduche and Mon Beauf—became cultural archetypes of postwar France.
Cabu was tragically murdered in the January 2015 terrorist attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo, alongside several of his colleagues, becoming a global symbol of artistic courage and freedom of speech.
Cabu (Jean Maurice Jules Cabut) — Infobox
| Full Name | Jean Maurice Jules Cabut |
|---|---|
| Pen Name | Cabu |
| Born | 13 January 1938 — Châlons-en-Champagne, Marne, France |
| Died | 7 January 2015 (aged 76) — Paris, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Cartoonist, Comic Strip Artist, Caricaturist |
| Years Active | 1954 – 2015 |
| Education | École Estienne, Paris |
| Known For | • Founding artist of Hara-Kiri • Political and satirical cartoons in Charlie Hebdo and Le Canard enchaîné • Creator of Le Grand Duduche and Mon Beauf |
| Artistic Style / Themes | Political satire, anti-militarism, social critique, humor, caricature |
| Major Publications | Hara-Kiri, Charlie Hebdo, Le Canard enchaîné, Récré A2 (TV program) |
| Notable Works | • Le Grand Duduche series (1972–1982) • Mon Beauf (1976) • À consommer avec modération (1989) • Les Abrutis sont parmi nous (1992) • Les Aventure épatantes de Jacques Chirac (1996) |
| Influences | French anarchist satire, anti-war movements, social realism |
| Awards and Honors | • Asteroid 320880 Cabu, named in his memory (2016) • Multiple exhibitions including Cabu et Paris (2006–2007, Hôtel de Ville, Paris) |
| Notable Characters | Le Grand Duduche, Mon Beauf, Adjudant Kronenbourg |
| Cause of Death | Killed in the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack (7 January 2015) |
| Family | • Son: Mano Solo (1963–2010), singer-songwriter |
| Languages | French |
| Quote | “To laugh is to live free.” |
Early Life and Education
Jean Maurice Cabut was born on 13 January 1938 in Châlons-en-Champagne, in the Marne region of northeastern France.
The son of a local teacher, Cabu showed exceptional drawing talent at an early age. After finishing secondary school, he studied art at École Estienne in Paris, one of France’s leading institutions for graphic design and visual arts.
In 1954, at just 16 years old, Cabu published his first drawings in a local newspaper. His humorous yet socially observant style began to attract attention.
Military Service and the Birth of a Satirist
During the Algerian War (1956–1958), Cabu was conscripted into the French army for over two years. His artistic skills were quickly noticed, and he was assigned to illustrate for the military magazine Bled and Paris Match.
However, the experience deeply impacted him. Witnessing the realities of colonial warfare transformed Cabu into a lifelong anti-militarist and pacifist, shaping his worldview and political stance. He later said that his time in the army had “turned him into an anarchist.”
Founding Hara-Kiri and the Rise of French Satire
In 1960, after leaving the army, Cabu co-founded the anarchic humor magazine Hara-Kiri, alongside François Cavanna and Georges Bernier (“Professeur Choron”).
With its subversive humor, absurdity, and political irreverence, Hara-Kiri revolutionized French satire, paving the way for Charlie Hebdo, which Cabu would later join as a leading cartoonist and shareholder.
His work in Hara-Kiri established him as a master of both caricature and social criticism, balancing moral outrage with biting humor.
Characters and Cultural Impact
Cabu created some of the most recognizable figures in French caricature, each embodying a facet of postwar society:
🧢 Le Grand Duduche
A shy, tall, bespectacled high-school student — Le Grand Duduche represented youthful innocence and quiet rebellion. The series became one of Cabu’s most beloved works, reflecting the generational gap and the student spirit of 1960s France.
🚬 Adjudant Kronenbourg
A satire of military authority, Kronenbourg epitomized Cabu’s anti-militarism, ridiculing rigid discipline and senseless obedience.
👨🦱 Mon Beauf (“My Brother-in-Law”)
Perhaps Cabu’s most iconic creation, Mon Beauf is a crude, sexist, racist, beer-drinking “ordinary Frenchman.” So universally recognized was the stereotype that the term “beauf” entered the French dictionary to describe vulgar, reactionary attitudes.
Cabu once said, “Le Beauf est un peu de nous tous” — “The Beauf is a bit of all of us,” suggesting that the caricature was both mockery and mirror.
Satirical Bravery and Political Engagement
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Cabu became a national figure. He contributed to Le Canard enchaîné and appeared on the children’s television show Récré A2, balancing serious political satire with accessible humor.
Cabu was never afraid to provoke debate. His sharp lines and clean style often disguised profoundly subversive commentary.
One of his most famous early drawings, published in 1973, mocked the hypocrisy of male politicians by asking:
“Qui a engrossé les 343 salopes du manifeste sur l’avortement?”
(“Who got the 343 sluts from the abortion manifesto pregnant?”)
The phrase stuck, and the Manifeste des 343 — a declaration by women admitting to having had abortions — became a landmark of the feminist movement.
Charlie Hebdo and the Muhammad Cartoons
In February 2006, amid global controversy over the Danish Muhammad cartoons, Charlie Hebdo published a cover illustration by Cabu depicting the Prophet Muhammad overwhelmed by fanatics, captioned:
“C’est dur d’être aimé par des cons!”
(“It’s hard to be loved by idiots!”)
The cartoon, simultaneously humorous and tragic, summarized Cabu’s lifelong defense of satire as a tool against fanaticism. Though it led to lawsuits and protests, he refused to apologize, arguing that freedom of expression must include the freedom to offend.
Exhibitions and Honors
Cabu’s artistry was widely celebrated during his lifetime.
- 2006–2007 — The exhibition Cabu et Paris at Paris City Hall showcased his lifelong love of the capital and his sharp observations of urban life.
- His works were also featured in numerous collections, including Cabu au Canard Enchaîné and Les Aventure épatantes de Jacques Chirac.
In recognition of his cultural impact, the asteroid 320880 Cabu was named in his honor in 2016, discovered by French astronomer Jean-Claude Merlin.
Death in the Charlie Hebdo Attack
On 7 January 2015, Cabu was among the twelve people murdered by Islamist extremists in the Charlie Hebdo shooting in Paris. He was 76 years old.
The attack, which also claimed the lives of fellow cartoonists Charb, Wolinski, Tignous, and others, shocked the world and triggered global solidarity under the slogan “Je Suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie”).
Cabu’s death marked the loss of one of France’s most influential satirists — a man who had devoted his life to humor, justice, and free thought.
Personal Life
Cabu was the father of the late French singer-songwriter Mano Solo (1963–2010). Despite his fame, Cabu lived modestly and was known for his kindness, gentleness, and unwavering commitment to humanitarian ideals.
His tombstone bears a line in Occitan translating roughly to:
“The man who gave every moment a shot…”
It captures his restless creativity and his refusal to take the world too seriously.
Selected Works
Le Grand Duduche Series
- Le Grand Duduche (1972)
- Le Grand Duduche en vacances (1974)
- Le Grand Duduche et la fille du proviseur (1982)
Other Notable Publications
- Mon Beauf (1976)
- Inspecteur la bavure (1981)
- À consommer avec modération (1989)
- Les Abrutis sont parmi nous (1992)
- Les Aventure épatantes de Jacques Chirac (1996)
- À gauche toute! (2000)
Legacy
Cabu’s influence on French art, journalism, and political discourse is immense. He taught generations that laughter is not just entertainment — it is a weapon against ignorance and injustice.
Through his pen, Cabu helped France look at itself with irony, compassion, and courage. His humor exposed prejudice but also celebrated humanity’s resilience and absurdity.
“To laugh is to live free.”
— Cabu
