Albert Robida Biography

Albert Robida (1848-1926) was a French illustrator, etcher, lithographer, caricaturist, and novelist. He edited and published La Caricature magazine for 12 years. Through the 1880s, he wrote an acclaimed trilogy of futuristic novels. In the 1900s, he created 520 illustrations for Pierre Giffard's weekly serial La Guerre Infernale.

Robida was born in Compiègne, France, on 14th May 1848, the son of a carpenter. He studied to become a notary, but was more interested in caricature. In 1866, he joined Journal amusant as an illustrator. In 1880, with Georges Decaux, he founded his own magazine La Caricature, which he edited for 12 years. He illustrated tourist guides, works of popular history, and literary classics. His fame disappeared after World War I.

Robida and his wife, Marguerite (née Noiret), had seven children, three of whom made contributions to the arts. His elder son, Camille, became a well-known architect. His youngest son, Henry, had been tabbed to serve as consulting architect to the government of Siam (today Thailand), but his life was cut short by World War I. Daughter Émilie was also an illustrator. In addition to several collaborations with her father, she was published in periodicals such as Le Journal pour tous and La Poupée modèle. Another son, Frédéric, was a president of the Touring Club de France.

Robida died on 11th October 1926. École primaire Albert Robida, a school in his native Compiègne, is named in his honor.