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AN ARTISTIC TRADITION SINCE 1864
A multigenerational family tradition of illustration, printmaking and artistic craftsmanship.
THE ORIGINS OF A LEGACY
In 1864, Paul Lacourière established his reputation in the art of illustration and colored lithography in Paris, depicting the life and society of the city’s upper classes and nobility. Over generations, the Lacourière name became associated with fine-art drawing, engraving, and printmaking. Works by Paul Lacourière are held in various collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Hand-colored litograph by Paul Lacourière for Journal des Demoiselles, 1867
THE STDUIO OF ROGER LACOURIÈRE
Building upon the artistic legacy of the Lacourière family, Roger Lacourière founded his studio in 1929 in Montmartre, the historic cradle of Parisian art. Within its workshops, generations of artisans transformed metal, ink, and paper into a language of rare precision, placing Lacourière at the forefront of twentieth-century fine-art printmaking.
The original Lacourière Atelier at 11 Rue Foyatier, Paris, seen through a master printing press
The artist Joan Miró in the Lacourière Studio.
THE MASTERS WHO SHAPED US
Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Miró, Dalí—artists who defined the 20th century found in the studio a partner equal to their ambition. Over time, Lacourière became the printmaker of choice for many of their most important editioned works, drawing on the full vocabulary of the craft: etching, engraving, aquatint, sugar-lift, mezzotint, intaglio, and lithography.
Pablo Picasso and Jacques Frélaut at the artist’s residence, La Californie, Cannes, 1961
LACOURIÈRE AND PICASSO
In the 1930s, Picasso entrusted Lacourière with the printing of the Suite Vollard, a series of 100 etchings now considered one of the greatest achievements in 20th-century graphic art. Within the studio, creation was a shared act of rare artistic trust—an exchange that helped define modern fine art printmaking.
LACOURIÈRE & FRÉLAUT
In 1938, master printmaker Jacques Frélaut joined the studio, soon becoming its principal manager. After Roger Lacourière’s passing, he assumed leadership and renamed it Lacourière-Frélaut, ushering in a new and dynamic chapter in its artistic legacy.
Jacques Frélaut operating the flywheel of a master printing press at the Lacourière Studio, 1954
LACOURIÈRE PRIZE FOUNDATION
Founded in 1979 by Madeleine Lacourière in honor of her husband, Roger Lacourière, the Prix Lacourière is a prestigious biennial award recognizing excellence in engraving. Its foundation reflects the studio's enduring influence.
Awarded by the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the prize preserves traditional mastery while championing emerging artists and fostering the next generation of printmaking talent.
Print by Baptiste Fompeyrine, winner of the 2025 Lacourière Prize
MUSEUM AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Lacourière’s prints have long been held in leading art institutions, a testament to their artistic and historical significance. Today, its artworks are preserved and exhibited by major museums worldwide, including the V&A, the British Museum, MoMA, and the Guggenheim Museum New York. Original signed prints remain highly sought after by collectors and are regularly offered at leading auction houses.
A LIVING ARTISTIC LEGACY
After a period of quiet preservation, Lacourière entered a new chapter as a contemporary studio devoted to portraiture, fine-art craftsmanship, and artistic expression. Building upon a multigenerational French artistic lineage, the studio continues to explore new forms of visual creation while remaining rooted in the enduring values of the Lacourière tradition.
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