Louis-Marie JULLIEN

After his usual foray into mural decoration in the 1930s, Jullien came to Aubusson in 1936, became friends with Picart le Doux in 1947, and joined the APCT (Association of Tapestry Cartoon Painters). He then devoted himself to tapestry with zeal, creating 167 cartoons, initially figurative, following in the footsteps of Picart le Doux and Saint-Saëns, but later, influenced by the scientific themes he explored, he moved towards abstraction. In 1981, two years before his death, he donated his studio to the Departmental Tapestry Museum in Aubusson.

Jullien’s interest in science and technology was evident early on in his career, at the end of the 1950’s, and this position singled him out somewhat among the other designers of the post-war period known in France as the “30 glorieuses” (despite a few works by Matégot, Maurice André and particularly Millecamps). Jullien imagined in 1961 an exhibition of his works entitled “Espace Poétique de l’Industrie” (Poetry in Industry) where he exhibited “Diamant noir” (the coal mine), Métropolis (oil refineries), ..., and this piece “Faiseur d’étoiles”, an allegory of autogenous welding.

Bibliography:
Exhibition catalog, "Espace poétique de l'Industrie," La Demeure Gallery, 1961 (illustrated)
Exhibition catalog, "Hommage à Louis-Marie Jullien," Aubusson, Departmental Museum of Tapestry, 1983