DOI issue:
No. 86 (May, 1900)
DOI article:Boucher, Henry: A French caricaturist: Louis Morin
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19784#0259
Louis Moriu
The supple fancifulness of his pencil, however, sans-vin" (95 drawings, 1885), and contrived to
stood him in good stead, and enabled him to turn infuse so much vitality and general merit into the
out caricatures or droll stories which were eagerly work that the French Academie had to recognise
taken by the illustrated papers, especially " La the effort by " crowning " it.
Caricature" and " Le Chat Noir." But Morin had Morin cannot be content with mere studio work;
larger views, and longed for more scope. He paid he must needs go out, and see for himself,
several visits to an old relative in Brittany, and A great longing to explore the vast domain of
became acquainted with the country and its art has long possessed him, so with an old friend
inhabitants, while falling a victim to the fascination and rare travelling companion, Leon B-, he
of this most impressive district. The effect was starts for Italy. The impression he received was
speedily manifest, whereas in others the same rapid, but very sure. Florence, that inexhaustible
scenery produced the poorest and most perfunctory mine of highest art, took him captive at once ; but
results. An amusing little story was the outcome the grandeur of Rome failed to impress him much :
of these visits. It was entitled "Jeannik" (1883), its heaviness seemed to weigh him down. Naples
and the author embellished it with 87 drawings pleased and intoxicated him, while Venice filled
which gave an excellent idea of the Breton types the young artist with wonder, and assumed com-
of the 18th century. plete possession of him. How could it be other-
Already the young artist had shown a marked wise ? For he who is not impressed by Venice is
partiality for that age of grace. He put his assuredly a confirmed dullard,
whole self into "Jeannik"; and let him perfect The results of this journey (1885) found delight-
his methods, alter his composition, how he will, ful expression in "Les Amours de Gilles" (1889), a
character and the personality are evident to all story of a bygone age, wherein we meet all the
beholders. Next, in another volume, he attempts figures of Italian comedy. Morin depicts their
the picturesque and draws many amusing costumes, amorous intrigues, shows us the dissolute nobles,
He records, in his ingenious way, the history of a the equally /cgeres ladies of the time; now tickles
family throughout two centuries, from the time of us with broadly comic scenes, now touches us with
Louis XIII. to the Wars of the Republic, under the love-sickness of Columbine, the interest of it all
the unpicturesque style of " Le Cabaret du Puits- being increased and stimulated by his exquisite
DESIGN FOR A PANTOMIME CAR FOR A CARNIVAL PROCESSION BY LOUIS MORIN
246
The supple fancifulness of his pencil, however, sans-vin" (95 drawings, 1885), and contrived to
stood him in good stead, and enabled him to turn infuse so much vitality and general merit into the
out caricatures or droll stories which were eagerly work that the French Academie had to recognise
taken by the illustrated papers, especially " La the effort by " crowning " it.
Caricature" and " Le Chat Noir." But Morin had Morin cannot be content with mere studio work;
larger views, and longed for more scope. He paid he must needs go out, and see for himself,
several visits to an old relative in Brittany, and A great longing to explore the vast domain of
became acquainted with the country and its art has long possessed him, so with an old friend
inhabitants, while falling a victim to the fascination and rare travelling companion, Leon B-, he
of this most impressive district. The effect was starts for Italy. The impression he received was
speedily manifest, whereas in others the same rapid, but very sure. Florence, that inexhaustible
scenery produced the poorest and most perfunctory mine of highest art, took him captive at once ; but
results. An amusing little story was the outcome the grandeur of Rome failed to impress him much :
of these visits. It was entitled "Jeannik" (1883), its heaviness seemed to weigh him down. Naples
and the author embellished it with 87 drawings pleased and intoxicated him, while Venice filled
which gave an excellent idea of the Breton types the young artist with wonder, and assumed com-
of the 18th century. plete possession of him. How could it be other-
Already the young artist had shown a marked wise ? For he who is not impressed by Venice is
partiality for that age of grace. He put his assuredly a confirmed dullard,
whole self into "Jeannik"; and let him perfect The results of this journey (1885) found delight-
his methods, alter his composition, how he will, ful expression in "Les Amours de Gilles" (1889), a
character and the personality are evident to all story of a bygone age, wherein we meet all the
beholders. Next, in another volume, he attempts figures of Italian comedy. Morin depicts their
the picturesque and draws many amusing costumes, amorous intrigues, shows us the dissolute nobles,
He records, in his ingenious way, the history of a the equally /cgeres ladies of the time; now tickles
family throughout two centuries, from the time of us with broadly comic scenes, now touches us with
Louis XIII. to the Wars of the Republic, under the love-sickness of Columbine, the interest of it all
the unpicturesque style of " Le Cabaret du Puits- being increased and stimulated by his exquisite
DESIGN FOR A PANTOMIME CAR FOR A CARNIVAL PROCESSION BY LOUIS MORIN
246