Jacques Wély – Biography Jacques Wély was a French illustrator, caricaturist, and draftsman active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He distinguished himself through his regular contributions to satirical and illustrated press, notably in newspapers such as Le Rire, L’Assiette au Beurre, and Le Figaro illustré. Wély was particularly known for his humorous genre scenes, often focused on the Parisian bourgeoisie, the socialites, artists, and employees. His lively and expressive line, combined with a keen observation of characters and attitudes, made him a graphic chronicler of his time, in the lineage of artists like Jean-Louis Forain or Charles Léandre. Dying in 1910, Jacques Wély left behind a subtle and vibrant body of work, a valuable witness to French society during the Belle Époque.