French Decorative Designs Coloring Book

The French have long been leaders in the creation of textiles and wall coverings, especially during the art deco period of the 1920s. Influenced by art nouveau and modernist styles, designers made bold statements with vivid colors and dazzling patterns.

The images represented in this coloring book were created by a variety of accomplished artists. E. A. Séguy was one of the leading French pattern designers. He created stylized insect, bird, and flower patterns using striking color combinations, some of which were manufactured as textiles or wallpaper.

Séguy and others published design folios using the pochoir technique, a printing process that uses stencils to create clean lines and a wet appearance. Pochoir is labor intensive, and at its peak as many as thirty graphic design studios in France each employed as many as 600 workers. Less-expensive printing techniques, such as color lithography, came to replace pochoir.

Images

1. Édouard Bénédictus (French, 1878–1930). From Relais, c. 1920s–1930
   
2. Henri Clouzot (French, 1865–1941). Composition de Madame de Andrada—Maison Paul Dumas, 1930
   
3. E. A. Séguy (French, 1877–1951). From Floréal: Dessins & Coloris Nouveaux, c. 1920
   
4. Serge Gladky (French, 1880–1930). From Nouvelles Compositions Décoratives, late 1920s
   
5. E. A. Séguy (French, 1877–1951). From Flowers and Foliage, c. 1925
   
6. E. A. Séguy (French, 1877–1951). From Prismes, 1930
   
7. E. A. Séguy (French, 1877–1951). Papillons, 1925
   
8. André Durenceau (French, 1904–1985). From Inspirations, 1928
   
9. Artist unknown. Wallpaper design by Maison Martine, from Modern Decor in Drapes and Fabric, 1930
   
10. Peter Lemeunnié (French, 1750–1850). Indian model
    
11. E. A. Séguy (French, 1877–1951). From Flowers and Foliage, c. 1925
    
12. Artist unknown. Wallpaper design by Maison Gaillard, from Modern Decor in Drapes and Fabric, 1930
    
13. E. A. Séguy (French, 1877–1951). From Primavera: Dessins & Coloris Nouveaux, 1930
    
14. Artist unknown. Ocean Fantasies, c. 1920s–1930s
    
15. Artist unknown. Flower Border, 1825/1826
    
16. Adrien Jacques Garcelon (French, fl. 1920s–1930s). From Inspirations, 1930
    
17. Artist unknown. Wallpaper design by Maison Martine, from Modern Decor in Drapes and Fabric, 1930
    
18. E. A. Séguy (French, 1877–1951). From Flowers and Foliage, c. 1925
    
19. Édouard Bénédictus (French, 1878–1930). Change, c. 1920
    
20. Serge Gladky (French, 1880–1930). From Nouvelles Compositions Décoratives, late 1920s
    
21. Artist unknown. Ocean Fantasies, c. 1920s–1930s
    
22. Adrien Jacques Garcelon (French, fl. 1920s–1930s). From Inspirations, 1930

Soft cover book with staple binding

48 pages with 22 images to color

Size: 8½ x 11 in.

Coloring pages are blank on the back so they can be cut out and displayed.