“Deux Filles Nues” (Two Naked Girls), a graphic novel centered on a painting looted by the Nazis, received the Best Comic Book award at the Angoulême Festival in France on Saturday. The work is authored by “Luz,” a former cartoonist for the satirical publication Charlie Hebdo, who narrowly escaped the tragic Islamist attack on the magazine’s Paris office in 2015 due to arriving late that day.
The graphic novel explores the true story behind the 1919 artwork by German Expressionist Otto Mueller, which was taken from a Jewish collector by the Nazis and later returned to his heirs after World War II.
“Deux Filles Nues” triumphed over 44 competitors for this prestigious accolade.
“I began my journey as a comic book artist a decade ago,” Luz remarked during his acceptance speech, reflecting on the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack.
“There was nothing else to do,” he added.
The festival’s highest honor, the Grand Prix, was awarded to French writer and illustrator Anouk Ricard for her extensive body of work spanning over twenty years.
Additionally, special guest John Romita Jr., a renowned US cartoonist known for his iconic superhero illustrations for both Marvel and DC Comics, was also recognized at the event.
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