26letters

Everyone has their own idea of America that draws on books, music, films, dreams, and fantasies. During his travels, French cartoonist Sempé discovered a world that fascinated, impressed, and astonished him. Though enchanted with jazz, he was sometimes disconcerted by the tremendous freedom that seemed to reign in the country. Nothing about the new ways of life he saw in the streets escaped his attention. Beyond the realism of certain sketches and drawings, the vigilant documentarian always retains his admiration and lucidity, offering us his vision of America through a poetic journey where humor guides the reader with extreme delicacy.

Jean-Jacques Sempé, usually known as JJ (August 17, 1932 - August 11, 2022), was a French cartoonist. He is known for his poster-like illustrations, usually drawn from a distant or high perspective and depicting detailed country landscapes or cities. For decades, he created covers for The New Yorker.