Culture
Words by Michel Wlassikoff
Vignettes, lettres, chiffres, monogrammes et réhauts modernes, éditions Guérinet, 1931
Guérinet publishers captured the fading glory of “Modèles de lettres” from the Romantic period with their Art Déco-inspired collection. They aimed at serving a wide array of professionals with both modern and classic designs by lesser-known masters of ornament.
Guérinet publishers captured the fading glory of “Modèles de lettres” from the Romantic period with their Art Déco-inspired collection. They aimed at serving a wide array of professionals with both modern and classic designs by lesser-known masters of ornament.
The 1930s marked the swan song of the “Modèles de lettres” whose success dates back to the Romantic period (see in this regard the work of Jean Midolle). Publishers have continued for almost a century to offer all kinds of series of lettres fantaisie, generally intended for letter painters, often including use instructions to succeed in “agrandissements”. Guérinet publishers, in 1931, offered a panorama of “vignettes, letters, numbers, monograms and modern highlights”, according to a pronounced Art Déco register — although a “classic part” contained alphabets from the end of the 19th century.
In a commercial announcement, the publisher underlines its intentions: make available to students, literary professionals, architects, advertising artists, etc., creations by the masters of ornament. These latter are mentioned: J. Girault and L. Labbé for the classique series (recoveries of 19th century catalogs); A. Bardi, M. Delahaye, P. Picaud and the Plumereau workshops for modern creations. Moreover, these names have not known posterity.
