City of the image, Epinal, Vosges

• L’Imagerie d’Epinal :

At the end of the 17th century, Jean Charles PELLERIN creates the Epinal imaging, sometimes still called "Imagerie Pellerin".

Production : the image is engraved in a wood board. The sheet printing is done with an arm press, also called Gutenberg. Then comes the colourist with stencils : using a round brush, he applies different colours for finishing the work.

The images were sold by merchants also called locally "Chamagnons" in reference to the village Chamagne, located about 20 km from Épinal.

After the unique image succeeded whole pages composed with a history and drawings or songs.

Under the Empire and the following decades, the imaging celebrated the Emperor, his family, his generals, his armies, his victories : the images will decorate millions of homes.

Pellerin Imagery was famous because of his illustrations of the Perrault’s tales

1860 and the appearance of lithography provide broader opportunities to artists. At the dawn of the "Belle Epoque", Imaging uses renowned designers. Child imaging rejuvenates with Benjamin Rabier, Job, Galco... Countless themes are handled and sold into the whole world.

• The museum of Images :

It gathers 25,000 French and foreign images, 1,500 burned wood and lithographic stones.

The visit of this facility will allow you to discover the history of popular imagery of the 18th century till today.