Georges David Wolinski (28 June 1934 – 7 January 2015) was a French cartoonist, comics writer, and satirist, best known for his fearless humor and deeply humanistic approach to art. For over five decades, Wolinski was one of France’s most prolific and beloved cartoonists, contributing to iconic publications such as Hara-Kiri, Charlie Hebdo, Libération, and Paris-Match.
His blend of political sharpness, erotic humor, and social commentary made him a cornerstone of postwar French satire. Wolinski was killed on 7 January 2015 in the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack, at the age of 80, while continuing the work that had defined his life: using laughter to confront the absurdity of violence, hypocrisy, and power.
Georges Wolinski — Infobox
| Full Name | Georges David Wolinski |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 June 1934 — Tunis, French Tunisia |
| Died | 7 January 2015 (aged 80) — Paris, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Cartoonist, Comics Writer, Satirist |
| Years Active | 1958 – 2015 |
| Education | Studied Architecture, Paris |
| Known For | • Political and erotic satire in Hara-Kiri, Charlie Hebdo, and L’Enragé • Creation of Paulette (with Georges Pichard) • Editorial and social commentary through humor and caricature |
| Artistic Style / Themes | Political and social satire, erotic humor, humanist and philosophical reflection, postwar French culture |
| Major Publications | Hara-Kiri, L’Enragé, Charlie Hebdo, Libération, Paris-Match, L’Écho des Savanes |
| Notable Works | • Paulette (1971–1984, with Georges Pichard) • Ras-le-bol-ville (1975) • Le Cirque des femmes (1977) • Les Pensées (1981) • C’est la faute à la société (1985) |
| Awards and Honors | • Grand Prix de la Ville d’Angoulême (2005) • Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (2005) • Asteroid 293499 Wolinski named in his honor (2016) |
| Influences | French postwar satire, anarchist humor, social liberalism, and the May 1968 movement |
| Collaborations | Worked with Georges Pichard, François Cavanna, Siné, and Jean-Jacques Pauvert |
| Affiliations | Hara-Kiri, Charlie Hebdo, L’Enragé, L’Écho des Savanes, Libération |
| Spouse | Maryse Wolinski (m. 1972 – 2015) |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Religion / Heritage | Jewish (Polish-Tunisian descent) |
| Cause of Death | Killed in the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack (7 January 2015) |
| Resting Place | Paris, France |
Early Life and Education
Georges David Wolinski was born on 28 June 1934, in Tunis, then part of French Tunisia, into a Jewish family of mixed Polish and Tunisian heritage. His father, Siegfried Wolinski, a Polish Jew, was murdered in 1936 when Georges was just two years old. His mother, Lola Bembaron, was a Tunisian Jew of North African descent.
After World War II, Wolinski and his family moved to metropolitan France in 1945, settling in Paris. The trauma of his father’s murder and the experience of displacement profoundly shaped his worldview—fostering an enduring sensitivity to injustice, intolerance, and authoritarianism.
He studied architecture in Paris, but his passion for humor and illustration soon took over. After graduation, he left the drafting table behind to draw for magazines, marking the beginning of a career that would redefine French cartooning.
Early Career: From Rustica to Hara-Kiri
Wolinski published his first cartoons in the family-oriented magazine Rustica in 1958. His humorous and observational drawings quickly evolved into political satire, and by 1960, he was creating cartoons that reflected the changing social and political landscape of postwar France.
In 1961, he joined the satirical monthly Hara-Kiri, founded by François Cavanna and Georges Bernier (Professeur Choron). Known for its anarchic humor and irreverent tone, Hara-Kiri became a breeding ground for France’s new generation of radical cartoonists.
Wolinski’s cartoons were simultaneously erotic, political, and existential, reflecting the growing spirit of rebellion that would explode in the May 1968 student protests.
L’Enragé and the Spirit of 1968
During the revolutionary fervor of May 1968, Wolinski co-founded the political magazine L’Enragé with Jean-Jacques Pauvert and Siné. This publication, born from the student movement, embodied the energy, defiance, and artistic freedom that defined the era.
At the same time, Wolinski became editor-in-chief of Hara-Kiri, serving from 1961 to 1970, during which the magazine became a cultural phenomenon. His editorial vision helped merge humor, art, and political critique into a single, explosive form.
Collaboration with Georges Pichard: The Erotic and the Absurd
In the early 1970s, Wolinski began a creative partnership with the comics artist Georges Pichard, resulting in the cult comic series Paulette.
Serialized in Charlie Mensuel, Paulette told the story of a naïve young woman navigating an absurd, hypocritical society. It was erotic, subversive, and satirical — a perfect mirror of Wolinski’s worldview. The series shocked conservative audiences while earning a cult following for its humor and artistry.
Other works from this period included Ras-le-bol-ville (1975) and Le Cirque des femmes (1977), which continued to explore gender, desire, and the absurdities of modern life.
Expanding Horizons: Journalism and Political Commentary
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Wolinski’s cartoons appeared in major French publications including:
- Libération
- Paris-Match
- L’Écho des Savanes
- Charlie Hebdo
He was admired not only for his bold satire but also for his warmth and humanity. His cartoons portrayed politicians, lovers, and citizens not as villains, but as flawed, ridiculous, and deeply human beings.
Wolinski’s worldview was deeply philosophical: he believed laughter could expose hypocrisy without cruelty. His cartoons spoke to the contradictions of love, politics, and mortality, often through the lens of humor.
Later Career and Honors
In 2005, Wolinski received two of France’s highest honors:
- 🏆 Grand Prix de la Ville d’Angoulême — awarded at the prestigious Angoulême International Comics Festival, recognizing his lifetime contribution to comics.
- 🎖️ Chevalier of the Legion of Honour — France’s highest civilian distinction, awarded by the French government.
Even in his later years, Wolinski remained active, publishing collections and political essays and contributing to Charlie Hebdo until his final day.
His last years saw him reflecting on age, politics, and love with characteristic humor. His book C’est la faute à la société (“It’s Society’s Fault”) summed up his worldview: that the human condition is absurd, and laughter is the only way to endure it.
Personal Life
Wolinski’s personal life was marked by both tragedy and love. His first wife, Jacqueline Saba, died in a car accident in 1966. In 1972, he married Maryse Wolinski, a journalist and novelist who often collaborated with him. The two remained together until his death.
Wolinski was known for his warmth, intelligence, and gentle humor—a contrast to the sharpness of his satire. Friends and colleagues described him as “a romantic trapped in a cynic’s pen.”
Death in the Charlie Hebdo Attack
On 7 January 2015, Georges Wolinski was killed in the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack in Paris, along with fellow cartoonists Cabu, Charb, Honoré, and Tignous.
He was 80 years old—one of the oldest working journalists in France, still contributing weekly cartoons to the magazine he had helped build. His death was mourned worldwide as a loss not just to art, but to freedom of expression.
As his wife, Maryse, later said:
“He lived by laughter, and he died because laughter scares tyrants.”
In 2016, the asteroid 293499 Wolinski was named in his honor by its discoverer, French astronomer Jean-Claude Merlin.
Selected Bibliography
Comics and Graphic Works
- Paulette (1971–1984, with Georges Pichard)
- Ras-le-bol-ville (1975)
- Le Cirque des femmes (1977)
- Les Pensées (1981)
- C’est la faute à la société (1985)
- Les Tunisiens sont “sages” (essay in Dégage! Une Révolution, 2012)
Notable Collaborations
- Hara-Kiri (1961–1970)
- L’Enragé (1968)
- Charlie Hebdo (1992–2015)
Legacy
Georges Wolinski remains one of the founding fathers of modern French satire, his influence extending across generations of cartoonists, journalists, and humorists.
He was more than a provocateur; he was a philosopher with a pen—a man who used laughter as a weapon against fear, hatred, and hypocrisy.
“Laughter is not a sin. It is a way of thinking.”
— Georges Wolinski
His art continues to live on in the pages of Charlie Hebdo, in museums, and in the hearts of readers who understand that freedom of expression must never be taken for granted.
