Raymond Peynet (1908–1999) was a French illustrator and cartoonist best known for Les Amoureux de Peynet, the tender young couple he created in 1942, inspired by a music pavilion in Valence.

With his delicate line, gentle humour and unmistakably romantic spirit, Peynet created a poetic world celebrating love and everyday tenderness. His famous lovers became an icon of post-war French popular culture, appearing on everything from books and posters to porcelain, jewellery, dolls and postage stamps.

In Le Petit Distrait (1943), Raymond Peynet creates a charming visual joke around a moment of innocent distraction. While the children ride the nearby carousel, one little boy has mistakenly climbed onto the back of the statue of Henri IV, apparently believing he has taken his place on one of the merry-go-round horses. Left behind as the carousel turns, he becomes the petit distrait of the title. With his delicate line and gentle humour, Peynet transforms this simple misunderstanding into a wonderfully poetic scene, characteristic of his affectionate observation of everyday life.