Legrand

Edouard Legrand (1892-1970)

Edy-Legrand, whose real name is Edward Louis Warschawsky Leon, born in Bordeaux in 1892, died in Bonnieux in 1970. He was a French illustrator and painter. He made the first part of his career in advertising illustration and literature. Later, his work was devoted to painting. He attended the Ecole des Beaux Artes in Paris, the Art Academy in Munich, and then lived and worked for Tolmer Publishing House in Paris for much of his career. After the Second World War, he spent much time in New York where he worked as an illustrator for various publishers.

Legrand was born in Bordeaux, France to a French mother and a Russian-Jewish father. In 1919, as a young painter , Edy-Legrand created the first children's book, Macao and Cosmage or experience happiness, for the New French Review. The compositions are colored by hand by Jean Saudé. This album was greeted with exceptional praise since the 1980s and applauded as a milestone in the history of illustrated book for children.

In 1932, Edy-Legrand participated in the first World Exhibition of engraved works of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he represented France. In this exhibit was also work by Picasso, Matisse and Derain, but Edy-Legrand was the only one to receive an honorable mention.