Léon art & stories

Helen Kerillis is known for her series of books Pont des Arts at L’élan vert. She launches a new series named Art- Fiction, at the publishing house settled in Bordeaux Leon art & stories. The concept is the same, involving a famous work of art and a fiction inspired by the work, and a final documentary page about the masterpiece with questions and answers.

What is unique about this project? First the launching of each book seems to be linked with art news : in 2013, for the reopening of the Rijksmuseum The tulip heart based on Rembrandt 's Night Watch and for the reopening of Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam The sun house inspired by the painting of Van Gogh The yellow house in Arles. Hence the books are published at the same time in French, English and Dutch. The project is clever.

Moreover, the fiction is rooted in the context of the creation and a precise analysis of the details; the books are mainly illustrated by a new staging of these details, clipped and isolated. A narrator, short narrative texts and cartoon bubbles that make the characters speak are added . (...)

In The Sun House, the author uses not only one painting, The yellow house, but several works from the time of Arles. The narrator is Camille, the son of the postman Roulin. The author uses their two portraits The Postman and Camille Roulin, and also The bedroom and Self portrait as a painter, 1887. The story is based on the feelings of this child about the painter, as a mix of real history (the argument with Gauguin and the ear cut off ) and the plausible invention : the painter's life in Arles, gossip and outcast in a small town. This is a fictionalized biographical episode. The layout of images is interesting with the juxtaposition of details revealing how the yellow color is haunting the painter.

Both books want to be closer to art history than fiction. First, they are the result of a careful look at the masterpiece, then imagination fills in the gaps, creating empathy and releasing emotions. We are looking forward to reading more... C. CS.

Mention ' Very good work ' for The Sun House

Two children’s books come with the re-opening of two museums in Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum: the series of books helps children 6-8 to discover masterpieces by Rembrandt and Van Gogh in a fictional way.

The two books have been translated into English and Dutch (Léon art & stories). The author, Hélène Kérillis, has two aims: make the cultural heritage appealing for children and develop creative stories of her own.

Focus on a new publishing house Léon art & stories.

The author-illustrator Hélène Kérillis previously created two successful series of books My first mythology published by Hatier and Pont des Arts published by L’élan vert.

Now here is a new original concept: to write thrilling and moving stories that help children discover some well-known painters.

Each book has been released at the time of a major cultural event: The Sun House is connected with the exhibition "Le grand atelier du Midi" in Marseille, and The tulip heart with the reopening of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

A favorite series of books!