Self-taught, he published his first drawing at sixteen, in 1957, and never had another trade. His thick, hatched line, which recalled woodcut, resembled no other in the satirical press. On 7 January 2015, Charlie Hebdo published his last drawing; he was killed in the editorial meeting.
The story
Born at Vichy on 25 November 1941, Honoré was self-taught: at sixteen, in 1957, the regional daily Sud-Ouest published his first drawing. He never had another trade.
He worked for Le Monde, for Libération, for Hara-Kiri, and joined Charlie Hebdo in 1992, when the paper was refounded.
His line looked like no other in the satirical press: thick, black and white, cross-hatched, closer to a woodcut — an engraver's drawing in among the caricatures.
On 7 January 2015, at twenty-eight minutes past eleven, the paper published his last drawing on Twitter: the leader of Islamic State sending his New Year greetings, captioned “Et surtout la santé !” — and above all, good health. Two minutes later two armed men walked into the editorial meeting. Honoré was killed there with Cabu, Charb, Tignous, Wolinski and five other people.
He was made a chevalier of the Légion d'honneur posthumously on 31 December 2015. His ashes lie in the columbarium, niche 2894: a plaque, with no sculpture.
The grave
A niche in the columbarium, number 2,894, closed by a plaque and devoid of any sculpture. Nothing there indicates the profession: no pencil, no drawing, no reproduction of the engraver's line that set him apart in the satirical press. The sobriety is that of the whole columbarium, where thousands of niches look alike — it is the number one must know to find his.
On site, do not miss
A plaque, a number: niche 2,894. No sculpture, no drawing — for one of the rare cartoonists whose line imitated engraving.
Visitors' questions
Where does Philippe Honoré rest at Père-Lachaise?
In the columbarium, niche 2,894, in Division 87. The niche bears a plaque, with no sculpture or ornament. Note the number before going in: the columbarium holds thousands of niches spread over several levels.
Le crématorium et le columbariumHow did Philippe Honoré die?
Killed on 7 January 2015 in the attack on Charlie Hebdo, along with Cabu, Charb, Wolinski, Tignous and five other people. His last drawing had been published by the paper minutes before the attack.
TignousHow do you recognise Honoré's drawing?
By its thick black-and-white line, cross-hatched like a woodcut — the craftsmanship of another century amid the press cartoons around it. Self-taught, he had been drawing since 1957 and never practised any other trade.
Pierre DacWhich newspapers did Honoré draw for?
Sud-Ouest first, from 1957, then Le Monde, Libération and Hara-Kiri, before joining Charlie Hebdo in 1992. Fifty-eight unbroken years of press cartooning, for a self-taught man who never practised any trade but that one.
Émile CohlAudio guide to Père Lachaise: the best unusual guided tour!
Discover the secrets of the most astonishing tombs
the audio guidefrom€6.99