Bernard Chamblet, by Étienne Le Rallic
Bernard Chamblet (Wrill)

Étienne Le Rallic was one of the most prominent French realistic comic artists of the 1940s and 1950s. His first drawings were published in Le Rire in 1910. Le Rallic was fascinated by horses, which can be seen in much of his work. He fulfilled his military service with the cavalry, and did his first drawings of horses for army publications. Later on, he made humorous drawings for the magazines Le Pêle-Mêle, Le Sourire, La Chronique Amusant, Fantasio, La Baïonette, Le Régiment, La Via Parisienne, Pages Folles, Bagatelle and Frou-Frou, sometimes using the pseudonym Smile.

art by Etienne Le Rallic

In 1926, he started working in a more realistic style for the publishing house Montsouris and illustrated novels for magazines such as Guignol, Lisette, and Pierrot. He was additionally present in Lili, Le Bon Point Amusant, L'Intrépide, La Semaine de Suzette and Coeurs Vaillants.

Yann Kéradec, by Le Rallic
Yann Kéradec (Wrill)

In 1935, he collaborated with Marijac on 'Les Premières Aventures de Flic et Piaff', a black and white book published by Gordinne. After this first attempt, Le Rallic devoted himself more and more to comics. Starting in 1938, he has contributed to a great variety of magazines, including Pierrot ('Le Réveil des Sioux', 'Josélito', Un Spahi'), Hurrah! ('Le Masque Rouge'), O Lo Lê, Coq Hardi ('Ponchos Libertas', 'Capitaine Flamberge', 'Le Chevalier à l'Églantine'), Pic et Nic, Cadet Journal, France-Soir Jeudi, Sabord and Bob et Bobette.

Horn du West, by Le Rallic (L'Intrepide, 1954)
Horn du West (L'Intrepide, 1954)

From 1945 to 1949, he worked for Éditions Gordinne, creating series like 'Yann Kéradec', 'Révolte à la Ferme', 'Nicou le Débrouillard and 'Bernard Chamblet' (published in Wrill), as well as 'Boby le Seigneur d'Ahaggar', 'L'Histoire sans Parole' and 'Le Poignard' in Cap'taine Sabord. He also created comics for Tintin ('Jojo Cow-boy', 'Teddy Bill', 'Leclerc Soldat de Légende'), L'Intrépide ('Horn du West', 'Fanfan la Tulipe', 'Cadet Roussßelle', 'Davy Crockett') and Mireille ('Moustique'). His final comics, 'Yuki, les Enfants de la Tourmente' and 'Aliboron au Far-West', were published in Nano et Nanette until 1964.

Cover for Wrill, by Étienne Le Rallic cover for Pierrot, by Le Rallic (1930)
Etienne Le Rallic covers for Wrill and Pierrot (1930)

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