Grand Theatre Nouveau

Hermes Histoires de Carres > Autumn - Winter 2021

The Imagerie d'Epinal, in the Vosges region of France, was founded in 1796. For two centuries, this printing house distributed colour illustrations throughout Europe, depicting innumerable themes such as exotic flora and fauna, trades and crafts, historic events, stories and legends, and riddles. Gianpaolo Pagni was granted privileged access to the house's archives and the opportunity to explore behind the scenes. Inspired by antique engravings he discovered there, he composed this remarkable theatre scene featuring wild animals as its protagonists. The ingenious assembly of geometric shapes is reminiscent of his distinctive stamped designs.