Photo : Cliché L'échappée éditions
Letter Painting
Hidden in plain sight, the intricate hand-painted signs of Paris tell stories that most pedestrians pass by without noticing. Immerse yourself in the world of sign painting as we explore the tools, techniques, and fascinating heritage behind this revival of artisanal craftsmanship.
Bibliothèque Forney (Paris 4th)
About
Elegant letters inscribed on a shop sign, an advertisement gracing the side of a building along a national road, a gold-leaf menu on a restaurant window, department store labels marked by hand, the name of an artisan proudly displayed on the side of their vehicle… Who was behind all these signs, invisible at first glance because they blend into our daily landscapes? The sign painter!
This book addresses this trade, which had almost disappeared, in all its dimensions: historical, technical, and social. At the heart of the revival of this practice in France, Morgane Côme scoured libraries, museums, workshops, directories, memoirs…, to tell the story of this everyday craft. Rare archives, forgotten manuals, and unpublished testimonies from painters of all ages—from the elders, with their precious insights, to the new, bustling generation—enrich a text that also examines the gestures, tools, and resources linked to a practice where manual expertise blends with a passion for the letter.
This is a scholarly and original journey through the history of a bicentennial profession that is very much in tune with the times.
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The Speaker
A sign painter based in Finistère, Morgane Côme shares her knowledge by organizing workshops and also conducts research on her trade. She is the author of Lettres Décoratives. A Century of French Sign Painters’ Alphabets (Letterform Archive, 2026).
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In partnership with L'Echappée, Independent publishing house for social criticism | Les Éditions L'échappée
