The first Biography of Renefere has been published - Collection "Les Cahiers du Musée (in French)
Some pages et Order form
NEWS
News
Nov. 2020 - Oct. 2021
RENEFER
& the Seine Landscapes
Exhibition
Museum of Batellerie
Conflans-Saint-Honorine, Paris area
Opening May,19th 2021
Until Octobre 2021
This exhibition is the first retrospective of the Seine landscapes that Renefer had made a specialty of, the last exhibition dating from 1944.
 Press Release (in french)
Press Release (PDF in french)
Classified as a post-impressionist, modern reality painter or an intimist, Renefer the eclectic has often been associated with Corot, Marquet and Signac. He actively participated in all the Parisian salons for over 40 years. He exhibited alongside Lebourg, Marquet, Signac, Luce, Adler, Antral, Céria, Guyot, Foujita, Van Dongen, etc.
The works exhibited - more than 60 of which 32 are paintings - will allow us to appreciate the artist's entire palette.
(suite)
The catalog is the first biography of Renefer. This book is full of information and offers research to understand the personality of this artist,
who was recognized in his time, but also a whole area of art history for which his contribution was remarkable.
This biography has been completed by 6 chronobiographic display panels (200x100cm), presenting the 50 important moments
of Renefer's Life (in french) :
1910's display panel -
1920's display panel-
1930's display panel etc.
The Petit Journal des Expositions is distributed to the public of the museum. It is entirely devoted to the artist.
"How to paint water?" written by Renefer is to be read on p4.
Click here to read it
Exhibition organized by the
Musée de la Batellerie et des Voies Navigables near Paris in partnership with the Renefer Association
Press Release
Some paintings
Novembre 2015
CHICAGO
Renefer Exhibition :
Letters and Artwork from the War
1914-18
Alliance Française de Chicago
Vernissage Tue. Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m.
Exhibition on display through December 22
Free Admission - In French and English
Writer and artist Raymond Fontanet, known as Renefer
(1876-1957), was mobilized to serve in the French military
in 1914 and, throughout the war, always carried pencils and
a sketchbook in his hands.
Renefer's works included illustrated correspondence with
his daughter - a unique testimony from a father to a
daughter about life in the trenches. This bilingual exhibition
presents the correspondence and works of Renefer during
the Great War with each panel including text depicting the
life of Renefer as an artist and soldier.
This exhibition is designed from an artistic and educational
point of view as photos taken by soldiers are connected to
reference the works of Renefer, offering an opportunity to
understand how he depicts and transcends the reality of a
soldier's life.
Awarded the label "Centenaire" by the French Government, this exhibit is organized by the Association
Renefer, the Cultural Service at the Consulate General of France in Chicago
and the Department of French at DePaul University with the support of the Institut Français.
Exhibition curator : Gabrielle Thierry, artist, expert and author of the Catalogue Raisonné of Renefer (WIP)
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May, 15 - 2021
The Museums Night
Understanding Renefer
4 short Videos
Renefer in 4 videos, from Paris to the Confluence of the Seine and the Oise
After 200 days of closure imposed by the sanitary conditions, the museums come out of the night for our greatest pleasure!
Link to the videos (still in French, but soon in english)
Réalisation :
City of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
WW1 Centennial
2014-2018
Butler/Renefer:
Two Artists in the Great War
Pedagogic Tools for Secondary Ed.
From CHICAGO
In the context of the centennial of World War I, the Cultural Services at the Consulate General of France in Chicago,
with the support of DePaul University, First Division Museum – Cantigny Park, and the Renefer Association, offers
to French professors in the Midwest a series of teaching tools.
These teaching tools are focused on the works of Renefer and Alban Butler, a French and an American soldier, respectively,
who both fought in World War I in France and published illustrated works of their wartime experience in simple yet moving
images and words. Students may compare and contrast the work of both artists as an exercise in language and cross-cultural
understanding.
Download the booklet
Six themed categories
- Daily life of the soldiers
- Citizens during the war
- Death and memory
- Dress
- Enemy
- War and technology
Through a variety of educational activities, the teaching tools help students put the works of the two artists into perspective,
gain a deeper understanding of the stakes of war, as well as acquire new French language skills.
In addition, a general document provides the basic context of the war and the life of the soldiers.
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Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri - RENEFER Exhibition :
Letters and Artwork from the War, 1914-18
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Special WW1 Centennial - French President Francois Hollande
deliver on Tuesday, November 11 at 10am, at the Elysée Palace the Award of "Petits Artistes de la Mémoire" to the winning classes,
on the occasion of the commemoration of November 11, 2014.
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The notebook Renefer wrote for his daughter, "Belle Petite Monde", in which he described the life of the soldiers in the
trenches is the inspiration for this national competition "Petits Artistes de la Mémoire"("Little Artists of Memory")
organized by the National Office of Veterans and the National Ministry of Education.
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- National WW1 Museum - RENEFER Exhibition :
Letters and Artwork from the War - 1914-18
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In partnership with the Consulate General of France - Chicago,
DePaul University and
the "Alliance Française"
the National World War One Museum presents :
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The artist Renefer was mobilized in 1914 and, throughout the war, carried pencils and a sketchbook to document his
experiences. His letters to his daughter, written in French will be displayed along with his poignant drawings.
Raymond Fontanet(1879-1957), known as Renefer, was 35 years old when he was drafted in the 1st Engineering Regiment in 1914.
His children's stories of the frontline soldiers, les poilus (the unshaven), occupied a special place among the first-hand
accounts of war in museums such as the Musée de l'Armée at the Invalides in Paris and the Historial in Peronne.
Nearly 50 works of war are presented here from his illustrated correspondence, lithographs "Des Hauts de Meuse in Alsace"
, his etchings of the Somme, Verdun, his illustrations for publishers, his woodcuts and sketches.
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- The texts of Henri Barbusse, René Benjamin, Alexandre Arnoux ... complete the Renefer's writings.
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The exhibition is designed from an artistic point of view. Photos taken by Adam Franz, a physician at the front,
("Ce que j'ai vu de la Grande Guerre", Ed. AFP-La Découverte)
are checked against works Renefer, offering the opportunity to understand how the artist restores its reality.
- In this collection of drawings Renefer sent to his eight year-old daughter to whom he affectionately gave the name,
Belle Petite Monde (Beautiful Little World), he describes life in the trenches in a style that is both
restrained and humorous. Yet these amusing scenes do not hide the devastated landscape, smoking ruins, and homeless
civilians. (Booklet's presentation here and bellow)
- Conferences : Gabrielle Thierry, artist, expert of Renefer and curator of this exhibition offers lectures on Renefer to assess the extent of his work and writings before, during
and after the war.
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- "Carnet de Poilu" (Ed.Albin Michel,2013), writen by Renefer to his daughter "Belle Petite Monde" is the inspiration for both teachers and
students in their involvement in the contest "Les petits artistes de la Mémoire".
This National Contest is organised by the French Ministry of Education
and French National Office for Veterans (ONAC)
since 2006.(more information bellow)
The conquest is now open to french schools worldide. More Information on AEFE website (here)
- New publication of Renefer WW1's testimony intitled "Carnet de Poilu - Leur vie
racontée aux enfants par Renefer", Ed. Albin Michel.
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100 years later, this sketchbook, "Carnet de Poilu", with its very special light touch, lets us revisit the daily life of the poilus, the horror of the battlefield and the suffering of the civilians. Above all, it provides a timeless reminder of the importance of duty and memory.
The sketchbook's final "Don't forget me" is adresses not only to Renefer's daughter but to future generations as well, to all children, and therefore to us,the children, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the "sacrified generation".
Booklet Presentation
An illustrated biography of the artist Renefer and a selection of artworks is added to the fac-simile booklet.
Today, this booklet from the war takes a very particular position : published under an artbook, it gives the opportunity to approach the memory of the WW1 soldiers
throughout artistic testimony.
For the WW1 Centennial, this publication has been supported by the partners of the national conquest
"
Little artists for memory, the Great War seen by children".
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For the centennial of the First World War , Ministries of Education, Defence and Veterans Affairs will launch the conquest
"Little artists for memory, the Great War seen by children" in all elementary schools in France.
"Carnet de Poilu" is the inspiration source for this National Contest.
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The new session will be launched by the Ministry of Education and the French National Office for Veterans (ONAC)
on september/october 2013. The contest proposes to elementary school's pupils (9 to 12 years old) to do historical
researches on a WW1 soldier of their city and design a booklet of his story like in "Carnet de Poilu, the "soldat Renefer" did
for "Belle Petite Monde".
All the information on
Ministry of Education Website
Since 2006, more than 25 000 pupils took part in the competition telling the story of a "Poilu" from their village or city.
One of this booklet can be shown here
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A Renefer Retrospective has been organised at Paris in 2009.
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It was the opportunity to discover the rich work
of this post-impressionist - drawings, engravings, illustrations and
paintings on Paris, Brittany, and other areas of France.
More information on this
video presenting the exhibition.
If you want to organize this exhibition or rent art Renefer, please contact M.Gabrielle Thierry
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- Nanga edition, proposes two war's drawings booklet from Renefer
 
The first one presents the Soldiers in front of the Versailles' castle waiting for their draft in 1914. They are part of the firt Regiment of "Genie", based in Versailles.
In the second one, Renefer has drawn soldiers and devastated landscapes around Verdun, after the battle, in 1918.
Original drawings from "Versailles" booklet are for sale by the publisher who proposes a kitt of the two booklets and the framed original drawing.
These drawings could be seen over the Internet :
Versailles booklet
- Renefer in exlusivity for Notre Temps,
Special issue How the WW1 can be transmited ?
within Notre Temps magazine (nov 08),
is entirely illustrated by
Belle Petite Monde's nicest pages.
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- Librio, new collection Les Grands Librio,
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19 Renefer's engravings are presented in this landmark book on the WW1 .
Inside : "Carnets de Verdun" (L.Loiseau et B.Bénesh), "La Grande Guerre vue par les artistes et les écrivains" et "Mon papa en guerre" (JP. Guéno).
Presentation
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"Histoires Littéraires"
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'Study about the famous illustrated collections : Fayard, Ferenczi and Baudinière, a notable event of the French literature history.
Wood engravings of Renefer is presented.
Presentation
Histoires Littéraires N°34, Du Lerot Publisher
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- 20th. marsh : Adieu 14, on France 2 TV
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In one month or in one year, the last french great war veterans will go. With him, the living memory of this conflict
which has been the founding act of the Twentieth century, will disappear too. But this could as well be the time for the WW1 to really enter into History.
The disaperance of the last "poilu" will represent a major upheaval; the french government has decided to organize a national mourning while families,
association, artists and medias will pay their tribute and remember them.
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The booklet "Belle Petite Monde" and the war engravings of Renefer are presented as a battlefield's testimony center around the memory.
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November- December 2007 - Launch of the National Contest - New session
"Little artists for memory, the Great War seen by children" for this new year 2007-2008
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This new session has been launched by the French National Office for Veterans (ONAC)
during the commemoration of the 11th of november 2007 (armistice day).
The contest, supported by the Ministry of Education,Xavier Darcos, proposes to the elementary school's pupils (9 to 12 years old) to do historical
researches on a WW1 soldier of their area and design a booklet of his story like the "soldat Renefer" did for "Belle Petite Monde".
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The Museum of the Great War, in Péronne, used to exhibite the Renefer aquaforte engraved right on the battlefield.
Today, its' a drawing of a dead horse that has been presented during the "The Animals'War"
exhibition - Until the november 25.
- Results of the contest "Little Artists for Memory, the Great War seen by children".
This contest, run by ONAC, the French National Office for Veterans, for the
commemoration of the 11th of november 2006 (armistice day) is designed for the elementary school's pupils (9 to 12 years old).
A national grand jury has selected 6 schools for the quality of their work regarding the historical, artistic and original content,
including the degree of emotion expressed as well as the commitment of the participants in the project.
- The three finalists
- Special prices
The contest will be held every year and most notably in 2008 for the 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War.
Awards ceremony and press conference on Tuesday 26 June 2007 at 11h30 - Hôtel des Invalides, Paris
Contact : ONAC :33 (0)1 49 55 62 57
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Tavet-Delacour Museum of Pontoise : Exhibition of "The Seine and Oise Confluent", painting from Renefer
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"The Painters and the Oise river" exhibition - From May to September 2007
This is a good opportunity for Renefer's work to be presented again at the Pontoise Museum, he was a fervent actor of the Vexin Art Fair during 30's to 50's.
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Maritime Museum of Rouen : exhibition of the "Rouen Ferry bridge, painting" from Renefer
"Adieu 14",
In one month or in one year, the last french great war veterans will go. With him, the living memory of this conflict
which has been the founding act of the Twentieth century, will disappear too. But this could as well be the time for the WW1 to really enter into History. The disaperance of the last "poilu" will represent a major upheaval; the french government has decided to organize a national mourning while families, association, artists and medias will pay their tribute and remember them.
(Authors Olivier MOREL / Jean-Marc SURCIN, Realization JM. SURCIN, Montage C. GRATON,BETULA Productions)
The booklet "Belle Petite Monde" and the research work on Renefer is presented as a battlefield's testimony center around the memory.
- "Belle Petite Monde, an artist's depiction of life in the trenches for children" - Somogy Art Publishers, NY
Throughout the 4 years he spent at the front as an anonymous soldiers,
Renefer steadily send descriptions and drawings of the daily life on the battlefield to his eight-year-old daughter, whom he lovingly
nicknamed "Belle Petite Monde".
This sketchbook is a first-hand account of the Great War. This book is identical to Renefer's original work and is remarkable for its "I was there"
quality. It is a moving and poetic gem meant for children.
International Distribution by Flammarion and CDS,Inc.
SOMOGY Editions d'Art
Original sketchbook introduced by MG Thierry
Bilingual edition (French/English) co-edited by the Department of the
Memory, Heritage and Archive of the French Ministry of Defence (DMPA)
"Belle Petite Monde" Presentation
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- History Book fair - Verdun, November 11-13, 2006
Présentation of Belle Petite Monde to the third History Book Fair of Verdun
SUCCESS :
Belle Petite Monde recognized as Best Sale for historical testimony and art book for a large public.
Event managed with the World Center for Peace, the Meuse General Council,
the Ducher Bookseller and the « 14/18 Meuse » Association.
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- November 11, 2006 : French National Contest "Little Artists for Memory, La Great War seen by children"
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Competition for 9 to 11 year-old children managed by the French National Office for Veterans (ONAC),
The Renefer Association Renefer, the Great War Museum of Meaux, and the
Departement of the Memory, Heritage and Archive of the French Ministry
of Defence (DMPA).
Goal : To preserve and pass on the Great War veterans' memories to the youngest generation. Each class writes and illustrates a
"notebook of drawings,poems and text relating to a story of a Great War soldier, such as Renefer's "Belle Petite Monde".
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- The 90th years 's commemoration of the Great War presented by theFrench National Office for Veterans
(ONAC) - exhibition throughtout France in schools, libraries, or public conference center, etc...
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Renefer's illustrated letters, book ( Belle Petite Monde) and engravings were displayed.
Renefer is presented throughout the panels as an artist for the Great War Heritage:
Introduction - Writers and Painter - The Great War Heritage.
The exhibition opened on april,5
in the Hall of Honor of the Museum of the Army, (Hotel National des
Invalides), with speeches by Mr Hamlaoui Mekachera,
Minister for Veterans Affairs
and Mr.Guy Collet, General Director of ONAC.
The Renefer Association Renefer exhibited some interesting works from its collection
including " During the fight, Somme 1916" port-folio and the booklet "
Belle Petite Monde".
Renefer 's works are shown on the "The Bleuet of France" exhibition panels too.
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- The Battle of Verdun Web Site funded by the Meuse General Council and the Verdun Memorial presents engravings and drawings by Renefer.
- Renefer's illustrated letters from war ois presented on the France 5 web site on Verdun,
allowing the public to better understanding of the life of Les Poilus in the trenches.
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Correspondence et artwork of the Great War, 1914-1918, were exhibited at Andrésy (Yvelines, France) and at Chanteloup-les-Vignes for commemoration
of the armistice on November 11.
- The Renefer writings on the "French Brittany",
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Restoration of Black and White film made in 1957 Renefer's friend and fellow painter,Claude Naudin, and production of the film
"Wandering trough Andresy with Renefer in 1957" (co-production with François Colin).
- Illustration for "Noirmoutier", Octave Mirbeau
... followed by Letters to Monet, Loti, Hervieu
Sequences Edition, (Print at Rézé (44) in 2003 by Séquences).
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Museum of Montmartre (Paris) presented Renefer's World War 1 artwork during the exhibition : "La Guerre des Crayons", about the children's drawings during the Great War.
- Creation of The Renefer Association.
... Further links
More news in french : click here
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The Renefer's Catalogue Raisonné*
is being prepared for publication. This volume will compile his complete works : paintings -
drawings - engravings.
To register your Renefer artworks, follow
this link , print and complete the form and send it, with a photograph of the work(s) to :
Gabrielle Thierry:
58 bis, rue Charles Infroit
78570 Andrésy - FRANCE
or by e-mail
catalogue@renefer.org
Be assured that the information you provide is confidential. When the
catalogue raisonné is published you may be listed as an
anonymous owner. If you do not wish to be identified as owner of the work(s) you list, please request anonymity upon submission of the information about each work.
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etc...
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In 1918, Renefer makes the first illustrated
edition of Le FEU more than 100 sketches and engravings, directly fom the tranches.
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The association can manage the "Renefer, Great War artworks and correspondance" exhibition for you.
More information :
The exhibition brochure (in french)
Contact :
Gabrielle Thierry
+33.6.74.48.26.91
* A catalogue raisonné is a complete and annotated listing of the
works of a particular artist. It provides information such as title,medium, size, owner, gallery, collection, and/or exhibition. It includes details about the
provenance and present condition of each work.
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