Peynet era un inguaribile romantico…malinconico come doveva essere…

PEYNET Peynet was born in Paris in 1908 from a family of merchants and at fifteen years old he attended the Art Institute. After completing his studies began to work on advertising design.In 1936, his first drawings were published in magazines such as “The Boulvardier” and “Laughter”. At the same time he began to realize the first designs for the smallest theater in Paris “The Huchette. The story of Peynet began in 1942 in Valence, during the war. He was in the station waiting to catch the train to Clermont Ferrand, where he was evacuated with his wife Denise and little Annie. Peynet loved her Denise, knew her since she was seven. For a bizarre and almost unbelievable twist of fate she had  Damour as surname…!
He was looking for new ideas for the cartoons to publish in magazine, “Ric & Rac. While he was lost in thought, he heard music coming from a kiosk in the gardens near the station.
He saw a long-haired young violinist playing Vivaldi with orchestra and with a romantic girl who listened to him .
For him it was like an electric shock and the beginning of his legend. He imagined that this musician was left alone in that kiosk liberty from the rest of the orchestra to play only for his love.
Peynet made a series of cartoons and sent to the editor of the magazine.
“The sweethearts” were born … like a ray of sunshine in the dark days of Nazi occupation.Within a short time became the symbol of lovers around the world and when many years later the town of Valence decided to demolish the now famous kiosk, there was a genuine popular uprising.
In 1982 it was decided to keep it as a national monument. There is a plaque with the lovers holding hands and that there are many lovers and married couples who are photographed next to the legendary kiosk.
On January 14, 1999 at ninety years, died in the hospital of Peynet Mougin three years after the death of his beloved wife. Since then he walked toward the inevitable dusk and his health gave way.
Perhaps it was inevitable its collapse. He lover of love, good feelings, he complained about the appalling growth of vulgarity and cynicism.  him without his Denise…
He was convinced that we never hear too much of love … It was an incurable romantic …sad as it should be …