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Edmond Calvo

1892 – 1957

French comics artist

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About Edmond Calvo

Lived 1892 – 1957 (aged 65). Edmond Calvo was a French comics artist, illustrator, sculptor, industrialist, comics colorist and draftsperson.

Edmond-François Calvo (; 26 August 1892 – 11 October 1957) was a French comics artist.

Born in 1892 in Elbeuf, France, he was in the army in the First World War, and started publishing cartoons in the 1920s. He had many different jobs, including working as a woodcarver and an innkeeper, until 1938, when he became a full-time artist. Most of his work had animals as the main characters, which together with his popularity and productivity gave him the nickname "The French Walt Disney".

His best known work is La bête est morte (started clandestinely in 1942, published as a book after the liberation in two parts in 1944–1945), a satire on the second World War with the different countries depicted as different animals, a system that would later be used by Art Spiegelman in his graphic novel Maus. The story was written by Victor Dancette and Jacques Zimmermann, and the comic was translated in English and Dutch. Other well-known works include Patamousse (1943–1946), about a rabbit, and Rosalie from 1946, where the main character wasn't an animal but a living car. Cricri souris d'appartement became the eponymous series for Cricri magazine. His last major series was Moustache et Trottinette (1952–1958), which was continued after his death by Jean Trubert.

He also contributed cartoons to satirical magazines like Le Canard enchaîné, and was active as a sculptor.

Calvo died in 1957 in the 20th arrondissement of Paris.

Calvo's graphical style, while often admired, has not really been influential. Only Albert Uderzo, the artist of Asterix, was directly influenced by Calvo after visiting him while still young.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Employers
Le Canard enchaîné
Also known as
Calvo, Edmond-Francois Calvo

People in Edmond Calvo's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Edmond Calvo's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Edmond Calvo?

French comics artist (1892-1957)

When was Edmond Calvo born?

Edmond Calvo was born on 26 August 1892 in Elbeuf.

When did Edmond Calvo die?

Edmond Calvo died on 11 October 1957 in 20th arrondissement of Paris.

What was Edmond Calvo's occupation?

Edmond Calvo was a comics artist, illustrator, sculptor, industrialist, comics colorist and draftsperson.

What nationality was Edmond Calvo?

Edmond Calvo was French.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Edmond Calvo

· Wikidata: Q3047708

· DBpedia: Edmond-François Calvo

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Edmond Calvo. https://biography.guide/edmond-calvo/

MLA: "Edmond Calvo." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/edmond-calvo/.

Chicago: "Edmond Calvo." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/edmond-calvo/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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