Jourdain

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Three generations of a leading French design family are covered in this sumptuously illustrated scholarly monograph. Frantz Jourdain (1847-1935), a leading practitioner of art nouveau, is best known for his polychrome design of La Samaritaine, the Paris department store. Friend of Emile Zola and Edouard Manet, he made liberal use of ceramics, earthenware, metal and glass in elegant buildings. His son, architect-decorator Francis Jourdain (1876-1958) discarded art nouveau influences in favor of a simple yet expressive rationalist style, effectively on display here in lamps, carpets, stage sets, ceramics and interiors. Frantz-Philippe Jourdain (b. 1906), son of Francis, revealed his predilection for industrialized architecture and prefabrication in designs for garages, pavilions, schools and houses. Smoothly translated from the French, this volume is decked out with color photographs, architectural drawings, paintings and memorabilia. (Aug.)

Library Journal

Few among France's many designers have left a wider generational legacy than Frantz Jourdain--determined trail-blazer, anti-establishment architect, and passionate journalist. Best known for designing La Samaritaine, an Art Nouveau department store in Paris, he also founded the Salon d'Automne and riled important critics of the time by exhibiting paintings of well-known Impressionists and promoting the decorative and applied arts. His son Francis carried on the family tradition through his socialist political causes and by championing the working classes. A talented painter as well, Francis created the vibrant friezes and embellishments of La Samaritaine, and also made a name as an interior designer. His insistence on functional design resulted in many Art Deco interiors that look surprisingly contemporary, even in the original photographs. The book includes a small section on the architectural work of Francis's son Frantz-Philippe. For large interior design or architecture collections.-- Sherry Porter, Texas Coll. of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Worth