“Signed Bretécher”, the exhibition that highlights all the talents of the creator of “Agrippine”

Review Covers for "Le Nouvel Observateur", children's illustrations, political commitment... The rich retrospective that the Cité de la BD d'Angoulême is dedicating to the illustrator aims to reveal all aspects of her work.

Claire Bretécher, a keen observer of the attitudes of her contemporaries. Here, "Two women standing, putting on their panties." CLAIRE BRETÉCHER

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This is what we call a professional deformation. In the retrospective that the Cité de la BD d'Angoulême is dedicating to the great Claire Bretécher (1940-2020), we only have eyes for the section of wall devoted to the front pages signed for "Le Nouvel Observateur". "Misogynistic France" (1982), with a woman in a children's park. "Are you a woman or a man" (1984), illustrated by a jaded-looking greenish sphinx. Under the famous words of Cookie Dingler: "Being a liberated woman... you know it's not so easy." (1985), a "Frustrated" woman slumped in an armchair. But our preference goes to "Should Bretécher be burned?" (1979), an issue responding to letters from readers exasperated at seeing Thérèse of Avila caricatured as a "greedy virago" by the author. The drawing, in which the saint seems ready to fight, is then used in an advertisement for the newspaper, with the caption: "Claire Bretécher killed Mickey." The acuity of her plates is praised: "A page of Bretécher in "Le Nouvel Observateur" is like a pamphlet, a major report on daily life." QED.

Beyond the undeniable contribution to the success of our magazine, the exhibition, with more than 200 works, aims to showcase Claire Bretécher's wide range of talents. For children's illustration, for example, with her debut in "Le Pèlerin" and "Record" or her series "Les Gnangn…