I seem to have become somewhat obsessed by the uncovering of the identity of the artist known by the pseudonym “Wighead”, so if anyone already has the answer, please put me out of my misery and tell me who they are.

In the mean time, I have already started to explore the possible link between” Wighead”  and  “Marilac”, who I referenced in a previous post which included a communication with Chrispophe Bier, who is of the view that the two artist are one and the same i.e. Mario Laboccetta.

Link: Jim Galding. A Genoux Esclave.

Having explored further I have located a third candidate, another apparently concealed identity under the name “Davanzo”, who for me is now a favourite suspect for “Wighead”,  as Davanzo appears to arrive on the scene illustrating for Orties Blanches at the same time that illustrations appear by “Wighead” for Les editions du Couvre-Feu. I am unsure why a different name would be required, other than the fact that they were titles issued by competing publishers. It could of course be that they were two separate identities with one copying the other. I know beyond doubt that “L’Éducation de Chérubin” was printed by L’Imprimerie Darientiere in January 1934, from the printers colophon at the back of the book.

All three artists illustrated more conventional works using these same pseudonyms, Davanzo appears to have been the first of the three to illustrate flagellation themed novels, “L’Éducation de Chérubin” and “Iréne et son Esclave” both for Orties Blanches both dated 1934, (I now know that “Iréne et son Esclave” , was actually first printed in December 1933,and reissued in 1934) Most of his mainstream work was for Nillson and Gründ, as was the other work of both both Wighead and Marilac

Wighead illustrated several titles for Les editions du Couvre -Feu and Le  Jardin d’Eros between 1934 and 1938, although really difficult to date the earliest of these appears to be “L’Orgie Dominatrice” with an estimated date of 1934.

Marilac appears to have illustrated only two flagellation  books, both for Editions Prima , the cover only of “L’ Amour Fouette” (1930?) and all the illustrations for “Mademoiselle Cinglade”(1936), I am not confident of the date for “l’ Amour Fouette” as this coincided with the same title being published by  Editions Montmartre, apparently illustrated by “A Sauvage”, I have not had sight of this book.

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So this is an attempt to start some discussion about these illustrators and publishers, there may well be other titles that I am unaware of, and I would be pleased to have any information that anyone can offer. But for the moment and hopefully to stimulate some interest I have selected below some illustrations which are chosen to show similarities in style between the three artists. I am limited in my ability to do this by the titles I have, I am fairly well off for” Wighead”, and although my illustrations for “L’Orgie Dominatrice” are from the German reprint they are the same illustrations. For “Davanzo” I have only  “L’Éducation de Chérubin” altough a copy of “Irene et son Esclave” is on its way. And for Marilac I have “l’Amour Foutte”, but as he only illustrated the cover of that, I have relied on the kindness of Christope Bier, who has provided copies of the illustrations for “Mademoiselle Cinglade”.

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Below are sample images and links to other posts that have all the illustrations, your views and opinions are encouraged. so tell me what you think.

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Marilac (1930?)

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Davanzo 1934

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Wighead (1934?)

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Davanzo 1934

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Wighead (1934?)

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Davanzo 1934

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Wighead (1934?)

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The above are designed to give example to various comparative factors, from the poses, the faces and the odd placement of partial bodies, I hope you get the idea, you can continue to compare the two titles by following the links.

Liane de Lauris: L’Education Cherubin

Jim Galding: Reitpeitschen un Küsse (Die Orgie der Dominas) Eros Publishing Hamburg n.d. (1980?) illustrated by Wighead, being a German translation of L’Orgie Dominatrice (1934)

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Now to move on to some possible comparisons between, Marilac,   (Mario Laboccetta) and Wighead. As i do not own a copy of “Mademoiselle Cinglade”  I have never posted the illustrations, and I am reliant here on the illustrations provided by Christophe Bier, and will post a selection of them for the purpose of comparison.

Marilac 1936

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Wighead 1938

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Marilac 1936

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Wighead 1935

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Marilac 1936

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Wighead 1935

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Marilac 1936

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Wighead 1935

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It may be that there are other titles illustrated by Marilac that offer a better comparison. If you think there are please copy to me and I will continue to make comparisons.

See Links

Mlle Cinglade. Editions Prima. 1936

Jim Galding. A Genoux Esclave.

J. Van Styk; Les Cruelles Frénésies de Van den Rook

J.Van Styk. Épouvantes Voluptueuses.