Octave Béliard / J. Regismanset - Murs - 1945

Extraordinarily rare French artist and time-document from 1945

Murs
Texts and sonnets: Octave Béliard
Drawings: J. Regismanset
Wallpapers Manufacture J. Grantil
Edition of Montigny Plates
Completed on February 24, 1945

Extraordinarily rare French portfolio with 12 color plates, produced during the last months of World War II in the venerable French wallpaper manufactory J. Grantil.

The special feature of this work lies not only in its illustrations but above all in their production:

According to the original text of the work, the color plates were “gravées et imprimées à la main” — hand-engraved and hand-printed.

Thus, these are not ordinary offset or reproduction prints.

An extraordinary genesis

The history of the album is closely linked to French industrial and war history.

The traditional wallpaper manufactory J. Grantil produced decorative wall coverings and possessed the necessary experience with historical printing techniques.

During World War II, the normal production capabilities of the manufactory were severely restricted. Under these exceptional conditions, they turned to an old craft technique for this project:

“Impression à la planche” — traditional printing from individual printing blocks or plates.

Colors are applied sequentially. The method corresponds to the historical artisanal production of multi-colored wallpapers and explains the unmistakable character of the plates.

Murs is therefore simultaneously:

* a bibliophilic French portfolio,
* a work of decorative graphics,
* a testament to traditional French printing technique,
* a document of wallpaper manufacture history,
* and a remarkable time witness from the last months of World War II.

Created for French prisoners of war

The album was produced in connection with an initiative for French prisoners of war.

This gives the work an additional historical dimension: in times of material shortage, restricted production, and war, it was crafted with the manufactory’s available artisanal skills as a consciously elaborate project.

The album was completed on February 24, 1945 — just a few months before the end of World War II in Europe.

The 12 hand-printed color plates

Particularly impressive are the 12 color plates after drawings by J. Regismanset.

The works combine elements of:

Art Deco, French illustration art, fashion drawing, interior and wallpaper design, and decorative graphics.

Characteristic are the reduced lines, generous planes, and the use of few, clearly delineated colors.

The individual colors were applied in a historic printing process separately. This gives the plates an immediately artisanal quality that clearly distinguishes them from modern industrial color printing.

Also remarkable is the surprisingly modern visual language of various motifs with elegant interiors, figures, and social scenes.

Limited character

Even the contemporary text of the work explicitly points to the significance of limited production and contains the notable formulation:

"La limitation du tirage confère aux pièces une valeur…"

The album was thus not merely intended as an ordinary publication from its inception, but possessed a consciously limited, collectible character.

A concrete edition size is not explicitly stated here, unless it can be reliably evidenced by the present copy.

Condition

The offered copy is complete with all 12 color plates.

The plates and inner pages are in remarkably good condition given their age. In particular, the vivid and fresh colors of the hand-printed illustrations are noteworthy.

The outer portfolio shows clear signs of age and use. These are documented in the photographs and are part of the offered copy.

No color plates have been detached.

Format: approx. 39 cm — a large-format work with an impressively impactful effect of the plates.

Rarity

Murs belongs to the publications from Manufacture J. Grantil / Edition des Planches de Montigny that are today extremely rare on the market.

Its special significance arises from the unusual combination of hand printing, French book and design history, wallpaper manufactory, wartime context, and charitable character.

An exceptional collectible for enthusiasts of French book art, Art Deco and design, historical printing techniques, decorative art, wallpaper history, and French cultural and industrial history of the 20th century.

This object is a historical work from 1945. All information on its creation, production, and printing technique is based on statements in the work itself as well as on bibliographic information available at the time of description.

The designation of the color plates as “hand-engraved and hand-printed” follows the original French edition note “gravées et imprimées à la main.” Beyond that, statements about individual steps or used printing methods are not guaranteed.

The work is offered to the best of our knowledge as complete with 12 color plates. The photographs are an essential part of the description and show the actual condition. The outer portfolio shows age- and wear-related damage; the content, especially the color plates, is significantly better preserved. Color deviations between photographs and original may occur due to lighting, camera, or screen display.

All information on rarity as well as on the artistic, cultural, and historical significance is provided to the best of knowledge and does not constitute a warranty for any specific market or resale value.

Sale is conducted by a private individual from my private collection. It is not a commercial sale. Only the copy depicted in the photographs is sold, in its current condition.