A major exhibition celebrating the work of Jeanne Malivel, the iconic artist from Loudéac in Côtes-d'Armor, Brittany, is currently on display at the Galerie des Orfèvres in Paris through November 8, 2025. The exhibition, titled "Jeanne Malivel, Resolutely Breton and Modern," showcases an extensive collection of the artist's engravings, watercolors, textiles, furniture, and decorative arts.
The exhibition coincides with the centennial of the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, where Malivel's work gained significant recognition. The Galerie des Orfèvres has been owned since July 2024 by Jack-Philippe Ruellan, an auctioneer who is also originally from Loudéac and whose 1984 master's thesis focused specifically on Jeanne Malivel's artistic contributions.
Located just steps away from Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Galerie des Orfèvres itself holds historical significance in the art world. The gallery once housed Daniel Cordier, a renowned collector and resistance fighter who was introduced to art by Jean Moulin shortly before Moulin's arrest during World War II. With generous contributions from Malivel's family, who possess pieces never before exhibited, and the Jeanne Malivel Association, Ruellan has opened his gallery to the public with a special invitation extended to Breton visitors.
Born in Loudéac in 1895, Jeanne Malivel demonstrated exceptional artistic promise from an early age. She entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris at nineteen and flourished in the Montparnasse studios after World War I. During this period, she trained in sculpture and glasswork while associating with Maurice Denis, who quickly recognized her remarkable talent and potential.
Despite promising opportunities in Paris, Malivel chose to return to Brittany in 1921, where she began teaching at the École des Beaux-Arts in Rennes. In barely ten years of a meteoric career, she distinguished herself across multiple artistic disciplines including painting, ceramics, textiles, stained glass, furniture design, and engraving. Her versatility and innovation across these diverse mediums established her as one of the most significant Breton artists of her generation.
Driven by a desire to liberate Breton art from mere folklore and revitalize local crafts, Malivel co-founded the influential group Ar Seiz Breur ("the seven brothers") in 1923. This collective, inspired by the British Arts and Crafts movement, quickly grew to include about fifty members and spearheaded an aesthetic renewal that would define modern Breton art. The group notably designed the Breton pavilion for the 1925 International Exhibition of Decorative Arts, cementing their place in art history.
The current Paris exhibition places Malivel's work within the broader context of the 1920s, when Art Deco was establishing itself across Europe. Her famous wood engravings, including the celebrated "Histoire de notre Bretagne" (History of Our Brittany) from 1922, present a universe of Celtic-Breton heroes and landscapes reimagined with fresh energy and modern sensibility. These works demonstrate her ability to honor traditional Breton culture while pushing artistic boundaries.
Alongside the engravings, the exhibition features watercolors, textiles, furniture, and decorative arts that reveal Malivel as a visionary creator whose intuition anchored her work firmly in modernity. This comprehensive display offers visitors a complete view of her artistic range and the revolutionary impact she had on Breton art during her brief but influential career.
The exhibition, originally scheduled to run from October 14-31, 2025, has been extended through November 8 due to popular demand. The gallery will be exceptionally open on November 1, 2025, to accommodate the large number of visitors eager to discover Malivel's work. This extension reflects the continued relevance and appeal of her artistic vision nearly a century after her death.
Looking ahead to 2026, which marks the centennial of Malivel's death, various commemorative events are planned across Brittany. From Easter to All Saints' Day, special exhibitions will be held at two sites along the Linen Route: the Maison des Toiles in Saint-Thélo and the Weaving Workshop Museum in Uzel. Additionally, the Loudéac Media Library will host two dedicated exhibitions celebrating her legacy.
The "Jeanne Malivel (1895-1926), Resolutely Breton and Modern" exhibition runs through November 8, 2025, at the Galerie des Orfèvres, located at 23 Place Dauphine in Paris's 1st arrondissement. The gallery is accessible via Metro Line 7 at Pont-Neuf station, and admission is free Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visitors can contact the Jeanne Malivel Association through secretary-general Isabelle Chevalier.
