(Georges Goursat) Sem

Georges Goursat, known as Sem, was a French caricaturist famous during the Belle Epoque. Goursat was born November 23, 1863 in Periguex, France. In 1888 he self-published his first three albums of caricatures, signed some as "SEM", allegedly as a tribute to Amedee de Noe who signed his caricatures for Le Monde illustre as "Cham". He settled in Bordeaux from 1890-1898, publishing more albums and his first press caricatures. His style matured, becoming simpler and more precise. During the same time, he made trips to Paris, designing posters printed in Jules Cheret's workshop. Goursat arrived in Paris in March 1900 at the time of the Universal Exposition opening. He chose horse racing as a way to enter high society. In June 1900 he self-published his new album Le Turf of caricatures of many prominent Parisian socialites. The album made him an overnight success. In 1904, Goursat received the Legion d'honneur. During World War I, he was a war correspondent for Le Journal. After the war, the artist returned to the kind of caricatures that made him famous. In 1929, he lost his fortune due to the economic depression. After a heart attack in 1933, he died in 1934.