Martine, the eternal youth of an icon
- Exhibition from March 21 to May 7, 2024
- With the original plates by Marcel Marlier
THE EXHIBITION
Galerie Gallimard and Casterman publishing house are pleased to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Martine, a timeless heroine who today seems younger than ever.
A cheerful and curious little girl born in 1954 from the imagination of Marcel Marlier and Gilbert Delahaye, Martine has lived a thousand adventures, always embodying childhood and happiness. With its unwavering success, the series is now an extraordinary publishing phenomenon: its 60 albums have sold 120 million copies in French and 45 million in foreign languages.
The readers' unwavering attachment to Martine has been passed down from mother to daughter over several generations and, even more astonishingly, her fame has gone beyond her readership: today Martine is known to all and is part of our lives and our history. Often quoted and associated with the events we are going through, she has become a true popular icon.
From 1954 to the present day
In the 1950s, children's literature was undergoing a renaissance, reflecting the social and cultural changes of the time. With the end of World War II, authors and publishers turned to more optimistic and imaginative narratives, offering children stories that transported them to enchanted worlds. Themes of adventure, friendship, and discovery were at the heart of many children's books, offering young readers welcome escapes and opportunities to explore new horizons.
It was in this context that Martine was born in 1954, when Casterman publishing asked two of their collaborators, Gilbert Delahaye, author and typographer, and Marcel Marlier, illustrator, to imagine a female heroine for 5 to 8 year olds. They would create 60 Martine albums that trace an enchanting journey through childhood.
Over the course of the annual publications, the series evolves to reflect social and cultural changes. Martine goes through paid leave and vacation departures, the appearance of supermarkets, the democratization of sports, the liberation of women, the evolution of schools, urbanization, the appearance of computers...
Martine protects nature, 2009
Following the death of Gilbert Delahaye, Jean-Louis Marlier took over by bringing new scenarios to the Martine series, while preserving the spirit and charm of the previous works.
Today, despite the disappearance of the authors, Martine explores other horizons in places full of history such as the Louvre, Versailles, Brittany and, now, Paris, in titles which very naturally mix the drawings of Marcel Marlier and photographic settings.
AROUND THE EXHIBITION
PUBLICATIONS :- Martine l’éternelle jeunesse d’une icône, Laurence Boudart
- Format: 20 x 25 cm
- Number of pages: 32 pages
- Release date: March 20, 2024
- Price: €19.90
A tribute and companion book for all generations of Martine fans.
With an unwavering success among readers, Martine is today an extraordinary publishing phenomenon. But what are the reasons for such popularity? Illustrated with numerous archives, this book focuses on the history and unique qualities of Martine, to explore in particular her ability to accompany changes in society. It allows us to understand how, in seven decades, Martine has gone beyond the status of a character to become a true icon.
Laurence Boudart has a degree in translation and a doctorate in modern literature. After teaching French, French-speaking literature and cultures, and translation at the University of Valladolid, she has been director of the Archives & Museum of Literature since the end of 2019. She has written around sixty articles and communications, mainly on Belgian literature, and is co-author of collective works and critical editions.
- Martine à Paris, Gilbert Delahaye, Marcel Marlier
- Format: 20 x 25 cm
- Number of pages: 32 pages
- Release date: March 20, 2024
- Price: €7.95
How lucky! For the holidays, Martine and Jean are going to visit their aunt Flo and their uncle Max... in Paris!
Martine and her brother are delighted, especially since their aunt has organized a giant treasure hunt to help them discover the capital. Going from clue to clue, Martine, Jean and Patapouf marvel in turn at the Champs-Élysées, Montmartre and the Sacré-Coeur, Notre-Dame de Paris, the Louvre Museum, the Place des Vosges and of course... the Eiffel Tower!
An adventure in the streets of Paris, to meet the most beautiful monuments of the City of Lights in the company of Martine!
LES JOLIES PLANCHES :
Martine, a pop culture heroine, enters the Jolies Planches catalog in the form of posters, notebooks, flexible magnets and textiles featuring emblematic elements from Martine's albums.
Les Jolies Planches offers curiosities and decorative objects designed and made by artisans recognized for their know-how and commitment. Thanks to its exceptional partnerships with the BNF and Éditions Gallimard, the publishing house puts beauty at the service of knowledge and thus transmits the richness of a heritage to new generations.
Press contact:
Kathy Degreef
k.degreef@casterman.com