French Literature Reviews - 2026
The Book as Art: Materiality and Meaning
Other Literary Studies
Bibliographic reference: Le livre comme art. Matérialité et sens, Nota bene, collection "Sciences humaines / Littérature", 2013. EAN13: 9782895184317.
The Book as Art: Materiality and Meaning examines various experiments centered on the book. The contributions explore artist books, fine bookbinding, and the interplay between text and illustration, thereby questioning the nature and purpose of the object itself. From the role of art dealer Denyse Delrue as a promoter to the educational mission of the École des arts graphiques in Montreal, from Refus global to explorations of typography by poets Roland Giguère and Jérôme Peignot, and through La Fresnaye's illustrations for Rimbaud's Illuminations, these and other case studies critically reexamine this familiar object we call the book.
Originating from a student conference organized by the Groupe de recherches et d'études sur le livre au Québec (GRÉLQ) at the Université de Sherbrooke, the volume features contributions by Stéphanie Bernier, Danielle Blouin, Marie-Maude Bossiroy, Sophie Drouin, Sophie Dubois, Geneviève Lafleur, Élise Lassonde, Louise Mauger, Emmanuelle Pelard, Anne-Lise Quesnel, and Madoka Taniguchi.
The book launch will take place during the 42nd Academic Exchange Day of the Association québécoise pour l'étude de l'imprimé (AQÉI) on Friday, April 26 at 3:30 PM: UQÀM, Hubert-Aquin Pavilion, Room A6290.
The study of the book as a physical object, often referred to as the history of the book, investigates how the material form of a publication influences its reception and meaning. This collection situates its inquiries within the study of material bibliography, highlighting the intersection of aesthetic experimentation and institutional history, and reflecting on how specific cultural actors and educational environments have shaped the evolution of the printed object.
The contributions in Le livre comme art. Matérialité et sens examine various experiments centered on the book, including artist books, fine bookbinding, and the interplay between text and illustration. The volume explores the role of art dealer Denyse Delrue, the educational mission of the École des arts graphiques in Montreal, Refus global, typography by Roland Giguère and Jérôme Peignot, and La Fresnaye's illustrations for Rimbaud's Illuminations. Readers interested in the history of printing and the development of the artist book in Quebec may find this collection of case studies relevant.