French book illustrators of the 1920s and 1930s frequently worked closely with authors and publishers in the production of finely printed deluxe editions. The examples here stand in marked contrast to the work of François-Louis Schmied, but they are all representative of the period. Of particular interest is how close some of these illustrations are to the work of advertising artists.
Paul Iribe (1883 – 1935) was a designer, journalist, artist, and fashion illustrator. From 1914, Iribe spent six years in Hollywood, working on film costumes and theatrical interiors for Paramount Studios. He served as artistic director for Cecil B. De Mille's first film version of The Ten Commandments. He returned to Paris in 1920, where he subsequently published a political journal, Le Témoin, in which his illustrations satirized the politics of the 1920s and 1930s. He was the long-time companion of Coco Chanel. His illustrations for Blanc et Rouge and Rose et Noir are typical of his work.
René Ben Sussan (1895 - ?) was a French wood engraver, etcher, lithographer and typographer, who also worked with British and American publishers. Of Sephardic Jewish origin, René Ben Sussan was born in Salonika. He exhibited with the Salon d'Automne from 1921 and the Salon des Tuileries from 1924-1928. His illustrations for Julien Green's novel The Pilgrim of the Earth are typical of his work.
Georges Montorgueil, whose real name was Octave Lebesgue (1857 - 1933) was the author of numerous children's book, notably with the illustrator Job as well as librettos and operas.
René Benjamin (1885 -1948) was a French author who in 1915 received the Prix Goncourt for his novel Gaspard.
The illustrator Charles Martin (1884 - 1934) also worked as a fashion designer, ballet and theater set and costume designer. He contributed to such fashion journals as Gazette du Bon Ton, Modes et Manieres d'Aujourd'hui, Journal Des Dames et Des Modes, and Vogue. In 1919, he collaborated with Erik Satie on "Sports et Divertissements". The colour plates by Charles Martin for Jean Cocteau's Soignez la gloire de votre firme illustrate the stages of collaboration in printmaking, from the inception of the idea to the client's final approval and satisfaction. He also did the illustrations for Louis Forest's L'Art de Boire. This is a signed presentation copy from the author.
Draeger Fréres was an important printer whose volume of type design was featured in the catalogued of the 1926 exhibition and who published Blanc et rouge, Rose et noir, and Soignez la gloire de votre firme.
