SPECIAL GUEST 2020
Cinémathèque française
UNLEASH YOUR LOVE FOR CINEMA
In 1936, the visionary Henri Langlois founded the Cinémathèque française in order to preserve scores of films, costumes, sets, posters and other treasures from the world of cinema. This made him the first person to think of cinema as an art to be preserved, restored and showcased. Eight decades later, in a boldly modern building designed by Frank Gehry and wholly devoted to the cinematic arts, the Cinémathèque française draws on the most extensive cinematic collection in the world to exhibit cinema in its own unique way, through a series of activities, which are only increasing in number.
The Cinémathèque is a hub of different cinematic tastes, constantly revisiting cinema throughout the ages, across the world and including all genres and boasts 4 theatres (with over 2000 screenings a year, exhibitions, a Museum, a host of meetings with cinema professionals, activities for young people, a library, a bookshop and a restaurant, all for a wide audience.
Outside its walls, the Cinémathèque française also produces or co-produces 5 temporary exhibitions a year around the world from the 500 films or 2,200 items from its collection.
This way, audiences can discover something new, and young people can find out more about the history of cinema every day.
One of the finest cinematic collections in the world 40,000 films, 3,000 costumes, 23,000 posters, 14,500 pieces of art, 2,300 items, 6,000 pieces of equipment, and more. The Cinémathèque française stands out through the degree to which it values its archives, equipment, costumes, posters, models and films. Over the years, the Cinémathèque française team have gathered together one of the finest cinematic collections in the world, which is constantly refurbished and added to thanks to the support of donors and patrons.
The Cinémathèque has carried out research into cinema across the world and its history, in partnership with various universities. This has resulted in seminars, study days and conferences on this subject.
As a guest of honour at the International Rare Book and Fine Arts Fair at the Grand Palais from 23 to 26 April 2020, The Cinémathèque française will showcase a selection of rare or distinguished items that exemplify the wealth of cinema's heritage, from Georges Méliès to Martin Scorsese.
La Cinémathèque française | 51 rue de Bercy - 75012 Paris | cinematheque.fr
A Trip to the Moon – Art by Georges Méliès
A section of the storyboard from George Lucas' Star Wars by Alex Tavoularis
Audrey Hepburn on the Ile de la Cité during the shooting of Stanley Donen's Charade – Photo by Vincent Rossell
Max Douy's models for Quai des Orfèvres music-hall set directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot
American poster for Breathless directed by Jean-Luc Godard – Art by Guido August
Jacques Prévert, 1939 - Art by Maurice Henry
Women book lover's society
« Aren't there any women? »
The "Les Cent Une" book lover's association was founded in 1926 by princess Schakowskoy after a conversation with a member of the Société des Cent (the Society of One Hundred, a former book lover's society). Over dinner, the princess asked if there were any women members of the association. "The expression she received in return told her all she needed to know about the esteem in which women's intelligence was held. Somewhat insulted, the process declared that she would found a book lover's society for women. In response, the gentleman said he doubted she would find many women interested in a good book. "I won't just find one hundred, but one hundred and one," she shot back. Surely enough, she did."
That is how the story goes in the archives of Les Cent Une, and it is a good reflection of the frame of mind into which this new, exclusively female book lover's society came into existence. The name Cent Une (One Hundred and One) was chosen, as fortunately the word for one ("un") has a feminine equivalent in French! The number of members was never to exceed one hundred and one, and the group has been at full strength for several years in a row. Jean Cocteau praised the group's "noble spirit", and Démétrios Galanis drew and engraved the society's bookplate in 1926, and it has been used ever since. Today, Les Cent Une are chaired by Catherine de Vasselot de Régné.
The society has been in a flurry of constant activity since. Once every two years, Les Cent Une publish a beautiful book for their 101 members that has been illustrated by a contemporary artist. Throughout its history, the Society and its chairwomen have always taken great care to ensure the quality of the illustrators that are taken on for this, and thanks to this, the tradition of quality and excellence in the society's illustrated books has continued. Throughout the society's ninety-three years of existence, forty-eight books have been published: these books combine original script with a contemporary artist and unfailing production methods with the help of expert bookmakers (papermakers, copperplate printers, typographers).
The society's publications include the following highlights: Suzanne and the Pacificby Jean Giraudoux, illustrated by J.E. Laboureur (1927), Alexis by Marguerite Yourcenar, illustrated by Dali (1971), and Adriana Mater, the first edition of Amin Maalouf's opera libretto, illustrated by Miguel Condé (2006), and its latest creation; La Maison du Lys de France by Gérard Manset, illustrated by François Schuiten. After over 90 years, Les Cent Une is one of the oldest book lover's associations in France, behind the Société des bibliophiles françois (1820) and les Amis du livre contemporain (1903). The society is the only one that is exclusively for women.
The society has been cubically recognised at two exhibitions: one organised in 2011 by the Château de Chantilly library, Femmes bibliophiles, de Catherine de Médicis à la duchesse d’Aumale [women book lovers, from Catherine de' Medici to the Duchess of Aumale], and a lovely retrospective exhibition at the town hall of the 6th arrondissement of Paris, during which the society was able to present all of its editions.
Since its invention, attributed to China sometime around 105 AD, paper travelled a long and winding road before it reached the West.
It followed the Silk Road, appearing in the Middle East at the end of the 8th century. As technical developments emerged, paper replaced parchment, and paper-making centres sprung up in Europe and France from the 14th century onwards. The centre in Ambert was developed around 1450. Some 300 mills scattered along various watercourses were in operation in the three paper-making valleys around Ambert, making paper by hand, sheet by sheet, from recovered rags.
Today, the Moulin Richard de Bas in Ambert (the last working paper mill in the Auvergne) keeps this ancestral activity alive. The Moulin Richard de Bas is open to visitors all year round, offering guided visits and introductory workshops during which visitors can roll their sleeves up and lend a hand.
Exceptional paper on which some of the key moments of our history have been written (Diderot and Alembert's Encyclopaedia in the 18th century, the one and only copy of the 5th Constitution from 1958, etc.), rare hand-made paper which has long been appreciated by great artists (Picasso, Dali and Rauschenberg among others) and art publications (collectors' editions), prestigious paper made in the vats in front of you: the mill has also specialised in producing paper suitable for modern printing techniques and original custom papers for artists and professionals.
During the fair, we look forward to welcoming you and introducing you to these ancestral practices which have given rise to the sheet of paper, and showing you the articles and papers produced by hand, sheet by sheet, at the Moulin Richard de Bas.
Moulin à papier Richard de Bas
Richard de Bas
63600 Ambert
Tel. 33 (0)4 73 82 03 11
www.richarddebas.fr
