Emmanuel Pierre Illustration

Image: Illustration by Emmanuel Pierre for Selvedge Issue 97 (crop). All images provided by the artist.

The French artist Emmanuel Pierre illustrated an article for us in Issue 97: Red. Illuminated Habits looks at colours in religious clothing. For example, in western monastic clothing, neutral colours would put you firmly in your place: “Monks’ and nuns’ clothing was regulated by the use of undyed wool, while bright colours such as red signified a higher status for cardinals or the pope.” Emmanuel’s drawings have appeared in The New Yorker, The World of Interiors, Le Monde and many other magazines, and he has illustrated more than 250 books. He has previously designed the Christmas windows of Galeries Lafayette for Christian Lacroix and also designs gardens. We asked him to tell us a bit more about his work and his collage style. 

Image: Emmanuel Pierre illustration for World of Interiors.

Image: Emmanuel Pierre for Selvedge team.

How did you become an illustrator?

I was given the opportunity to work for the Literature pages of a newspaper rather early,  as I was more involved in doing etchings, drawings and objets that I had already begun to exhibit. Then, having a weekly illustration in La Croix, I began to ring editors and work for magazines and other newspapers.

Tell us about your collage technique - where do you find source imagery and how long do pieces take?

I principally use old prints, lithographies and chromos that I find in bookshops markets, second hand boxes and old dictionaries. Mostly stuff before 1940. I cut all what I need and make assemblages and stick them when it fits me. It can take a week, a few hours, depending on the schedules and the importance of the size or number of pages, if it’s for a gift or an important order.

Image: Emmanuel Pierre illustration for Hotel du Louvre.

Where can people buy your work online?

Well, I’ve got no special space or shop for that. One can email me (via Emmanuel’s website) and we find a solution. You also can purchase my last book, Abécédérotique (written by François Motte) only through the editor’s site (Éditions La Pionnière). My web site is becoming obsolete, but there are Facebook and Instagram links.

Follow @emmanuelpierre_illustrateur on Instagram