Caricature & Satire Artwork
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About the artist
Georges Goursat (Sem)
Georges Goursat (Sem) prints bring the glittering high society of Belle Époque Paris into your home: racegoers at Longchamp, dandies and courtesans at Maxim's, dancers, actors and aristocrats, all drawn with sharp wit. Sem was the most famous French society caricaturist of his day, and his album Le Turf made...Read the full biography
Georges Goursat (Sem) prints bring the glittering high society of Belle Époque Paris into your home: racegoers at Longchamp, dandies and courtesans at Maxim's, dancers, actors and aristocrats, all drawn with sharp wit. Sem was the most famous French society caricaturist of his day, and his album Le Turf made him a star overnight in 1900. Our collection of fine art prints includes his caricatures, war sketches and posters.
About Georges Goursat (Sem)
Marie Joseph Georges Goursat was born in Périgueux on 22 November 1863 into a well-off merchant family. An inheritance from his father let him enjoy a comfortable youth, and in 1888 he self-published his first albums of caricatures in Périgueux under the name "Sem" in tribute to the caricaturist Cham. He lived in Bordeaux from 1890 to 1898, where he discovered the work of Leonetto Cappiello, and in 1891 created two posters printed in Jules Chéret's workshop.
After two years in Marseille, where he met the writer Jean Lorrain, he arrived in Paris in March 1900 during the Universal Exposition. His album Le Turf, caricaturing the stars of the racecourse such as Boni de Castellane and the Rothschilds, made him famous overnight, and Paris-Trouville followed the same year. He received the Légion d'honneur in 1904.
During the First World War he was too old to be called up but worked as a war correspondent and published two albums of Croquis de Guerre (War Sketches), as well as war bond posters. After the war he returned to society caricature with Le Grand Monde à l'envers (1919). Ruined by the 1929 crash, he died in Paris in November 1934.
Style and Subjects
Sem's caricatures are portraits on the spot, halfway between a likeness and a joke. Flat areas of colour outlined in black, figures set against coloured backgrounds, and nervous, lively contour lines make his drawings easy to read at a glance.
He moved away from the old big-head caricature tradition toward slim, elegant silhouettes that catch each person's posture and style. His world is the smart set of Paris: the racecourse, Maxim's, the theatre and the seaside resorts. His war sketches are completely different in style, plain and direct.
Famous Works
- Le Turf (1900). The album of racecourse caricatures that made him famous overnight.
- Le retour de Longchamp (1910). Society racegoers heading home from the races.
- Maxim's (1904). The famous Paris restaurant and its glamorous crowd.
- Jean Lorrain and Leonetto Cappiello (1901), Musea Brugge. The writer who brought him to Paris, with the poster artist he admired.
- Jean Lorrain, Boldini, Kate Moore, Madeleine Lemaire, Montesquiou, Jean-Louis Forain et Yturri. A crowd of Belle Époque artists and personalities.
- Argonne. A war sketch from the front.
- Souscrivez à l'emprunt, Banque Nationale de Crédit. One of his war bond posters.
Decorating with Sem Prints
Sem's caricatures bring wit and Parisian chic to a bar, dining room, dressing room or entrance hall. Hang a row of racegoers or Maxim's scenes in slim black or gilt frames for a Belle Époque café feel.
His colourful posters suit a kitchen or games room, and his war sketches are a quieter choice for a study or library.
FAQ
Who was Sem?
Sem was the pen name of Georges Goursat (1863–1934), a French caricaturist, illustrator and poster artist who was famous for his drawings of Paris high society during the Belle Époque.
Why did he call himself Sem?
He chose the name as a tribute to Amédée de Noé, the caricaturist known as "Cham".
What made him famous?
His 1900 album Le Turf, caricaturing the celebrities of the Paris racecourses, was an instant success and made him known overnight.
What did he do in the First World War?
He was too old to serve but worked as a war correspondent for Le Journal, published two albums of war sketches and drew war bond posters.
Where can I see his work?
Musea Brugge holds several of his caricatures, and his albums were widely sold and reprinted.
Related Artists
- Leonetto Cappiello: the poster artist whose work changed his style
- Jules Chéret: in whose workshop his first posters were printed
- Jean-Louis Forain: fellow Paris caricaturist, drawn by Sem
- Giovanni Boldini: Belle Époque society painter who appears in his caricatures
- Carlo Pellegrini: Vanity Fair caricaturist of high society
About this artwork
The Journal
