Deux filles nues by Luz Wins the Fauve d’Or at the 2025 Angoulême Festival

Cartoonist Luz has been awarded the 2025 Fauve d’Or for Best Album at the 52nd Angoulême International Comics Festival for Deux filles nues (Albin Michel). This graphic novel recounts the story of a painting created in 1919 by German expressionist artist Otto Mueller, which was looted by the Nazis from a Jewish collector before being returned to their descendants after the war.

Through the eyes of this artwork, Luz depicts the rise of Nazism and the persecution of so-called “degenerate” art while drawing a parallel with contemporary concerns about the resurgence of the far right. “I wanted to tell the story of a painting that witnessed tragic events, especially the rise of the far right. I wanted to create a history book, but I ended up making a book about the present,” the author said upon receiving his award.

A former Charlie Hebdo cartoonist, Luz turned to graphic storytelling after narrowly escaping the January 7, 2015, terrorist attack on the satirical newspaper’s editorial team. He had previously explored the trauma of that tragedy in Catharsis. “There was nothing else left to do,” he admits, explaining that Deux filles nues continues his work on shock and memory.

Beyond the Fauve d’Or, the 2025 awards also recognized several other works and creators:

• Grand Prix d’Angoulême: Anouk Ricard, honored for her entire body of work.
• Fauve d’Honneur: John Romita Jr., legendary comic book artist (The Amazing Spider-Man, Daredevil).
• Special Jury Prize: Les Météores by Tommy Redolfi and Jean-Christophe Deveney, and En territoire ennemi by Carole Lobel (joint winners).
• Best Series: Dementia 21 (Volume 2) by Shintaro Kago.
• Best Newcomer: Ballades by Camille Potte.
• High School Award: Les Contes de la mansarde by Elizabeth Holleville and Iris Pouy.
• France Télévisions Audience Award: Impénétrable by Alix Garin.

The Angoulême Festival, the world’s largest comics event, will conclude on Sunday, February 2.