Hermenegildo Sábat

Hermenegildo Sábat (23 June 1933 – 2 October 2018) was an Argentine-Uruguayan caricaturist.

Life and work Early career in journalism Hermenegildo Sábat was born in the oceanfront Pocitos section of Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1933. Named after a grandparent who had been a noted local artist in his day, Hermenegildo was known as "Menchi," from early childhood. Montevideo's leading news daily, El País, first published a drawing of his - a portrait of Uruguay national football team forward Juan Schiaffino - when the young artist was but 15 years old.

Sábat's first work experience in journalism began in 1955 as a graphist in Acción, returning to El País, in 1957. His career prospered in El País, and Sábat became an editor at the daily, as well as contributing work as a staff correspondent, photographer and illustrator. His byline was featured in other Uruguayan periodicals in subsequent years, such as Marcha, Lunes and Reporte, and he freelanced as a graphic designer. A dispute with El País''' owners, however, led Sábat to emigrate to neighboring Argentina, in 1966. Following a stint at Editorial Abril, a Buenos Aires publishing house, his caricatures were soon included in Primera Plana and Crísis (then the leading Argentine news magazines), as leading dailies such as Clarín, and La Opinión, for which Sábat became the sole illustrator.

Sábat's interest in jazz and tango resulted in his writing numerous books on the genres, including: a biography of tango vocalist Carlos Gardel - Al troesma con cariño (To the Maestro, with Love, 1971); of trumpeter Bix Beiderbecke - Yo Bix, Tú Bix, Él Bix (1972); and Scat: una interpretación gráfica del jazz (1974).

Later years Becoming a naturalized Argentine citizen in 1980, Sábat continued his commission with Clarín while contributing occasionally to other dailies, such as the Buenos Aires Herald. He became a fixture in Clarín with his illustrations of political commentator Eduardo van der Kooy's weekly columns. His caricatures made him increasingly well-known, and parodied even authoritarian leaders such as Juan Perón and the heads of the National Reorganization Process. His dauntless approach to humor helped earn him the prestigious Maria Moors Cabot prize, in 1988 (among his numerous other recognitions).

Alfonsín's successor, Carlos Menem, proved particularly useful as fodder for Argentine humorists. The flamboyant Menem's prominent sideburns and ongoing push to extend constitutional term limits lent itself easily to Sábat's portrayal of him as a man fused to his presidential chair. He draw her with a punch to the face during the 7D, in reference to a judicial ruling that benefited Clarín in the conflict between Kirchnerism and the media. The legislature of Buenos Aires accused him of violence against women, and José Pablo Feinmann said that "he should not draw what he thinks".

BooksAl troesma con cariño (1971), about Carlos GardelYo Bix, Tú Bix, Él Bix (1972), about Bix BeiderbeckeScat: una interpretación gráfica del jazz (1974)Una selección de dibujos públicados entre los años 1971 y 1975 (1975)Galería personal (1975)Dogor (1979), about Aníbal TroiloMonsieur Lautrec (1980), with Julio Cortázar, about Henri de Toulouse-LautrecTango Mío (1981)Sentido pésame (1984)Una satisfacción tras otra (1990)Haberlo sabido antes (1992)Fotos (1996)Jazz a la carte (1996)Carta a Torres García (1996)Crónicas del Ángel Gris (1996), illustrations for book by Alejandro DolinaAdioses tardíos (1998)La casa sigue en orden: cuatro décadas de historia en dibujos (1999)Georgie Dear (1999), about Jorge Luis BorgesImágenes latentes (2001)Dos dedos: una interpretación de Django Reinhardt (2004)Siguen las firmas: inventario apócrifo de falsedades, mentiras y algunas certidumbres (2006)El pájaro murió de risa (2007), about Charlie ParkerAnónimo Transparente (2007), about Fernando PessoaQue no se entere Piazzolla'' (2008), about Ástor Piazzolla