Benjamin Rabier (1864-1939) Illustrator of the Laughing Cow for “Laughing Cow Cheese”

Benjamin Rabier started out as a bookkeeper but won the first prize in a drawing competition in 1878. He drew for Le Gil Blas, L'Assiette au Beurre and Le Chat Noir. He published his first album in 1896. He worked on the magazines published by Arthème Fayard (La Jeunesse Illustrée, Les Belles Images). His book 'Tintin Lutin' was an inspiration for Hergé, who named his famous series after it.

In 1923 he created 'Gédéon', a goose whose adventures he drew until the end of his life. Besides 'Gédéon', he worked as an advertising illustrator, and won fame for designing the image of La Vache qui Rit (Laughing Cow). With Émile Cohl, Benjamin Rabier made cartoon animations of 'Gédéon' in 1908.