A paper world

Did you know that the art of cutting paper is over 2000 years old? Traces of such a practice can be found all over the world, especially in ancient South American and Asian cultures (such as shadow puppets). A legacy still visible today in the illustration. On the occasion of this exhibition, we wanted to share our love for this form of creation through 4 artists working for children’s publishing, each demonstrating in their own way the technical and aesthetic prowess that cut-out paper allows.

Hélène Druvert is inspired by Chinese shadows to create monochrome and meticulously cut images. In his books, the superposition of the different pages creates impressive sets, teeming with details. In a similar practice, Cécile Jacoud uses many colors in her boards constructed in depth. Véronique Joffre focuses on the flat tints and contrasts created by her collages, to develop tender and gentle images of childhood. Mathilde Arnaud prefers the pop-up, and thus creates many animated books, yet another practice of cut-out paper, which is highlighted here in volume.