Delightful Sempé Retrospective at the Hotel de Ville

There is a major (and free) exhibition of the drawings by cartoonist and illustrator Jean-Jacques Sempé at the Hotel de Ville through 11 February. Totally delightful.

The "Sempé, A Bit of Paris" exhibition lets us look at the world through the eyes of Jean-Jacques Sempé. Over 300 original drawings along with with texts by the artist are displayed at the Hôtel de Ville.


Sempé has been translated into twenty-five languages and is the creator of several thousand drawings. One of the most famous French cartoonists he has reached generations of readers over the last fifty years. This is a major retrospective,
humour, artistry, poetry... its all here.

Sempé settled on the Left Bank when he arrived in Paris. He frequented Montparnasse and Saint-Germain des Prés, enjoying locations like brasserie Lipp, the Café de Flore, the Closerie des Lilas, the Chez Castel club, the Luxembourg Gardens. He became friends with notables including Françoise Sagan, Jacques Tati, Jacques Prévert, Raymond Savignac, René Goscinny and had a devoted following for his work.

New-York, the New-Yorker and Sempé. In 1965 Sempé visited New York and began to write for the New Yorker. Sempé created 'Air Mail' a beloved column that explored Sempés views of America. Sempé also created over one hundred covers for The New Yorker.

Practical information
The show is open through February 11, 2012
Free at the Hôtel de Ville. Metro: Hôtel de Ville.
Daily except Sundays and public holidays, from 10am to 7pm