Paperblanks Moutarde Softcover Lined Journal

Our Shape Shift series reproduces an original work by heralded Art Deco designer Pierre Legrain (1889–1929). It highlights key elements of his artistic style, with the triangles, trapezoids and zigzagging lines all giving a sense of movement to the heavy geometric shapes.

Legrain was a part of a celebrated era of French bookbinding and design. Legrain’s bookbinding talents were encouraged by his patron Jacques Doucet, a French bibliophile, couturier and renowned collector. Before the First World War Legrain had designed furniture for Doucet, and after leaving the French Army in 1916 he was once again put to work, this time to design unique bindings for the contents of Doucet’s impressive library.

Despite having no formal training in the art form, Legrain crafted a series of trailblazing designs which would revolutionize the world of French bookbinding. This was largely thanks to Doucet’s attitude of experiment, advising Legrain to be “freely inspired by contemporary artists’ vibrantly coloured mosaics, bold play with geometric forms and straight lined bands” – which are evident in this Shape Shift design.

Like many of the most groundbreaking artists, Legrain cared little for buzzwords and best practices. His imaginative works, often in exotic materials, found their way into the prized collections of book lovers around the world. With his sense of free experimentation, he brought bookbinding firmly into the 20th century, and into the hands of art collectors and architecture enthusiasts beyond the usual bibliophiles.

This modern mosaic design is now proudly a part of the Spencer Collection at The New York Public Library. It is truly a monumental piece of bookbinding history and we are honoured to share Legrain’s unique vision as part of our collection.