Gigo’in Daretsuytse (Gigo, 1914)
Name/Title
Gigo’in Daretsuytse (Gigo, 1914)Secondary Title
Կիկօի տարեցոյցը 1914Description
Krikor Torossian, widely known simply as Gigo, was an Armenian satirist, writer, and cartoonist born in 1884 in Eğin (Kemaliye). He moved to Constantinople at a young age, where he received his education and began contributing to Armenian newspapers such as Lila. Under the mentorship of prominent writers like Kasim and Der-Hagopyan, he developed his signature wit and social critique, eventually becoming chief editor of the satirical paper Manzume. Following the Young Turk Revolution of 1908, Torossian launched his own illustrated humor journal, Gigo, which quickly became one of the most beloved and influential satirical magazines in the Armenian press. Through biting caricatures, political commentary, and humor, he used his art to expose hypocrisy, corruption, and the struggles of everyday Ottoman Armenians. His works reflected both the optimism and disillusionment of his generation. Torossian was also working on a major illustrated encyclopedia containing around 300 of his drawings, demonstrating his ambition to blend visual art and literature into a lasting cultural contribution. On April 24, 1915, he was among the first group of Armenian intellectuals arrested in Constantinople at the start of the Armenian Genocide. He was deported first to Çankırı and then to Ayaş near Ankara, along with other leading Armenian writers, politicians, and educators. Despite his imprisonment, he continued to sketch caricatures in exile, telling friends that he planned to publish them after his release. Tragically, he never returned. According to eyewitness accounts and historical records, Gigo was later transferred from Ayaş to Ankara, where he was brutally murdered. He was only 31 years old. Today, he is remembered as a pioneer of Armenian satire and caricature, whose sharp humor and creative spirit continue to symbolize resilience in the face of oppression. This book is the fourth annual edition of his satirical almanac, with the fifth and final volume published in 1915—the year before his death. Titled Gigoyi Daretuyts (“Gigo’s Yearbook”), it was a compact 17×12 cm publication of approximately 300 pages. The book bears two stamps. One is of Hovhannes Kılıçyan (Յովհաննէս Գըլըճեան) who was born around 1877–8 in the Ottoman Empire, though his exact birthplace remains unconfirmed; he became a prominent figure in the Armenian community in Istanbul, establishing himself as a bookseller and publisher known for his involvement in the Armenian book trade and for publishing school textbooks as well as the satirical almanac Gigoyi Daretuyts (“Gigo’s Yearbook”), which featured caricatures and social commentary; he was affiliated with the Hnchak (Hunchak) Party, reflecting his engagement in the political life of the Armenian community during the late Ottoman period; on April 24, 1915, he was among the Armenian intellectuals and community leaders arrested in Istanbul and deported to Ayaş and was killed in Angora, though the exact circumstances of his death remain undocumented. Another stamp includes H. Goshgarian bookstore/library who probably picked up the book after the death of Kılıçyan.Category
Books