Jean Casimir-Perier, de la fortune financière à l'infortune caricaturale

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La personne de Jean Casimir-Perier, éphémère président de la République (six mois) en 1894-1895, suscita de nombreuses charges graphiques. Son nom (son grand-père ayant été président du Conseil de Louis-Philippe) et sa fortune d’héritier (il fut le principal actionnaire de la Compagnie des mines d’Anzin) furent principalement à l’origine de l’ire que son accession aux plus hautes responsabilités déclencha. Ceci, à l’heure où la « question sociale » imprégnait fortement le débat public tant à la Chambre des députés que dans la presse d’opposition. Nous proposons, selon l’appartenance politique des journaux auxquels les caricaturistes participaient, de mettre en lumière leurs arguments graphiques. Nous nous attacherons plus particulièrement à examiner ceux venant étriller l’hôte de l’Élysée eu égard à sa fortune financière.

Jean Casimir-Perrier, temporary president of the Republic (for six months) between 1894 and 1895 inspired numerous political cartoons. His name (his grandfather had been the head of the government of Louis-Philippe) and his family fortune (he was the main shareholder of the Compagnie des mines d’Anzin) were the principal reasons behind the anger unleashed at his assumption of such high responsibilities. This happened at the time when the “social issue” was a prominent feature of debate in the Chamber of Deputies, as well as in the opposition press. Based on a variety of political positions advanced in newspapers which carried works by caricaturists, we will interpret the visual arguments that were advanced. according to the affiliation of the political newspapers in which cartoonists took part, to bring out their satirical graphic process. Our focus will by primarily directed at those related to the financial fortune of the President.