Georges Bigot and Japan, 1882-1899: Satirist, Illustrator and Artist Extraordinaire

Compiled and Edited by Christian Polak with Hugh Cortazzi
Published by Renaissance Books

Incorporating over 250 illustrations, Georges Bigot and Japan is the first comprehensive study in English of French artist and caricaturist, Georges Ferdinand Bigot (1860-1927). Inspired by what he saw of Japanese culture and way of life at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1878, Bigot went to Japan in 1882, immediately developing his career as an artist working in pen and ink, watercolours and oils. He also exploited his talent as a highly skilled sketch artist and cartoonist. His output was prodigious and included regular commissions from The Graphic and various Japanese as well as French journals. He left Japan in 1899, never to return. Bigot remains well known in Japan where examples of his cartoons still appear in Japanese textbooks, but he is barely known in France, his home country, or in Britain.

In this event, Sir Hugh Cortazzi will briefly introduce the volume, and Christian Polak will then give an illustrated talk about Bigot. The volume includes a full introduction of the life, work and artistry of Bigot by Polak, together with an essay by Sir Hugh on Charles Wirgman, publisher of Japan Punch. Wirgman was Bigot’s ‘predecessor’ and friend (he launched his own satirical magazine Tôbaé in 1887, the year Japan Punch closed).

Georges Bigot and Japan, 1882-1899: Satirist, Illustrator and Artist Extraordinaire will be on sale during the evening for £40 (RRP £95).