the essential
On January 7, 2015, twelve people lost their lives in the attack on Charlie Hebdo, including five emblematic cartoonists of the satirical weekly. Portraits of victims of barbarism
Cabu
Jean Cabut, known as “Cabu”, was the soul of Charlie Hebdo. At 76 years old, this designer with the eternal bowl cut and round glasses embodied the antimilitarist spirit forged during the Algerian War. Creator of “Beauf”, this character entered in the dictionary who caricatured the failings of French society, he slayed stupidity with rare talent. An Anar dreamer, convinced environmentalist and great jazz lover, he was also the author of several caricatures of Mohammed which, in 2006, had earned Charlie's team death threats. He admitted only one regret: that of not having always been fierce enough.
Wolinski
Georges Wolinski, 80 years old, was the patriarch of the gang. Born in Tunis to a Polish father and an Italian mother, this legendary cartoonist discovered “comics” thanks to the Americans who landed in North Africa. Pillar of the Hara-Kiri gang in the 60s and then of Charlie Hebdo, he was the father of the famous “King of idiots”. Each week, his drawings featured two emblematic characters: a skinny, shy person and a big, domineering man with peremptory counter remarks. He leaves behind 80 albums and a considerable legacy.
Charb
Stéphane Charbonnier, “Charb”, 47 years old, director of the publication since 2009, was the preferred target of the terrorists. Threatened with death, placed on the Al-Qaeda blacklist in 2013, he had never given in to intimidation. A committed designer from a very young age, his thick lines and his “lit faces” tackled all subjects: wars, politics, reality TV, illness or religions. No subject escaped his pencil, even the most sensitive.
On November 17, 2010, Charb, Tignous, Luz illustrated La Dépêche du Midi. At the invitation of the editorial staff, Charlie Hebdo cartoonists agreed to illustrate the day's news with humor.
Tignous
Bernard Verlhac, alias “Tignous”, 57 years old, was the slayer of capitalism and inequalities. This Parisian, whose pseudonym means “little moth” in Occitan, had been publishing his drawings for 30 years. A caustic and committed cartoonist, he collaborated with Charlie Hebdo, Marianne and participated in broadcasts by Laurent Ruquier and Marc-Olivier Fogiel. In 2010, he published “Pandas in the Mist”, giving voice to these pacifist beasts threatened with extinction.
Honoré
Philippe Honoré, 73, embodied discretion and talent. Self-taught, having published his first drawing at the age of 16 in Sud Ouest, he had collaborated with Charlie Hebdo since its rebirth in 1992. His old-fashioned style, in black and white, also adorned the pages of Le Monde, Libération and Les Inrockuptibles. He notably illustrated the 2010 anniversary edition of Petit Larousse.
Bernard Maris
Bernard Maris, “Uncle Bernard”, was the voice of economic reason at Charlie Hebdo. At 68, this iconoclastic left-wing economist, columnist on France Inter, castigated the excesses of liberalism. Originally from the South-West, where he had kept his accent, he defended the theses of degrowth and denounced the ravages of the consumer society. His “Anti-economics textbooks” from the early 2000s were very successful.
Elsa Cayat
Elsa Cayat, 54, the only woman among the victims, brought her psychoanalyst vision to the newspaper. His bimonthly column “Charlie Divan” deciphered social facts with finesse. Author of several works on couples and sexuality, she was appreciated for her total commitment and her ability to analyze the intensity of human relationships.
Mustapha Ourrad
Mustapha Ourrad, proofreader of the newspaper for ten years, was the very example of the meritocratic path. Born in Algeria, an orphan, he arrived in France at the age of 20. A self-taught scholar, he was appreciated for his professional skills, his erudition and his keen sense of self-deprecation which made him a valuable member of the team.
Michel Renaud
Michel Renaud, 69, was just a visitor that day. Founder of the Rendez-vous du Carnet de Voyage festival in Clermont-Ferrand, this former journalist and chief of staff of the city mayor came to return drawings to Cabu, who had been the guest of honor at his last festival. Chance placed him in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Frédéric Boisseau
Frédéric Boisseau, 42, a maintenance agent at Sodexo for 15 years, was the first victim. Father of two children, he was simply carrying out maintenance work in the entrance hall when the terrorists burst in. His only fault was being in their way that morning.
Franck Brinsolaro
Franck Brinsolaro, 49 years old, brigadier of the Protection Service (former SPHP), ensured the security of Charb. Married to Ingrid, editor-in-chief of L'Eveil normand, and father of two children including a 13-month-old baby, he had served two years in Afghanistan before this mission which cost him his life.
Ahmed Merabet
Ahmed Merabet, 42, a police officer from the 11th arrondissement where he had served for around ten years, was on mountain bike patrol when he tried to intercept the terrorists. His execution at point blank range when he was already injured, filmed and broadcast on the internet, became the symbol of the barbarity of this terrorist attack.
