Tetsu

Sleep tight

This image caught my eye recently and made me chuckle, it’s by French cartoonist Roger Testu (1913-2008) known as Tetsu. 

I love the gentle humour of the piece, and the way the dog and cat have their heads in the middle of the pillows and the gentleman has no pillow at all, yet he looks perfectly content.

And where is Madame, is she sleeping in her own room next door or has she died? 

Monsieur et Madame look happy in the portrait above the bed.   Tetsu was known for illustrating the lives of Mr & Mrs Ordinary, he was never interested in the flamboyant or famous.  For me this is an image of domestic harmony, even though it raises a few questions.

I wonder, what’s the message in this illustration?  Is it teasing those of us who would happily put our animals’ comfort before our own, or is its purpose simply to amuse?

AJK