The French artist Édouard-Henri Avril made a name for himself primarily as an illustrator of erotic and pornographic writings. However, in these cases he appeared under his pseudonym Paul Avril. Even today, the illustrator, born on 21 March 1849 in Algiers, is still considered the father of modern erotic literature.
Avril began his education between 1871 and 1873 with a study at the School of Fine Arts in Marseille, then he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris from 1874. Only four years later he exhibited his paintings in numerous salons in the city. But the starting signal for his actual career was a commission to illustrate the novel Fortunio by Théophile Gautiers. This was followed by various other engagements: From then on Avril repeatedly created works from the genre of the so-called gallant literature. However, his illustrations were not intended for a mass audience, but were rather aimed at a small circle of subscribers who were not deterred by the price of these lovingly designed special editions. Among his better known drawings are the illustrations in 'John Cleland's Fanny Hill, The Wife of Jules Michelets' or Mario Uchard's 'Reflections on Love in the Harem'.
Beyond that, however, Avril illustrated a large number of well-known novels and writings of his time, which had nothing to do with erotic literature. These include Gustave Flaubert's Salammbô, the writings of the French writer Octave Uzanne or - what is now his main work - De Figuris Veneris by Friedrich Karl Froberg.
The illustrator with the stage name Paul should not be confused with his brother Paul-Victor Avril, who from time to time made etchings from his brother's illustrations. The artist finally died on 28 July 1928 in Le Raincy in France.
The French artist Édouard-Henri Avril made a name for himself primarily as an illustrator of erotic and pornographic writings. However, in these cases he appeared under his pseudonym Paul Avril. Even today, the illustrator, born on 21 March 1849 in Algiers, is still considered the father of modern erotic literature.
Avril began his education between 1871 and 1873 with a study at the School of Fine Arts in Marseille, then he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris from 1874. Only four years later he exhibited his paintings in numerous salons in the city. But the starting signal for his actual career was a commission to illustrate the novel Fortunio by Théophile Gautiers. This was followed by various other engagements: From then on Avril repeatedly created works from the genre of the so-called gallant literature. However, his illustrations were not intended for a mass audience, but were rather aimed at a small circle of subscribers who were not deterred by the price of these lovingly designed special editions. Among his better known drawings are the illustrations in 'John Cleland's Fanny Hill, The Wife of Jules Michelets' or Mario Uchard's 'Reflections on Love in the Harem'.
Beyond that, however, Avril illustrated a large number of well-known novels and writings of his time, which had nothing to do with erotic literature. These include Gustave Flaubert's Salammbô, the writings of the French writer Octave Uzanne or - what is now his main work - De Figuris Veneris by Friedrich Karl Froberg.
The illustrator with the stage name Paul should not be confused with his brother Paul-Victor Avril, who from time to time made etchings from his brother's illustrations. The artist finally died on 28 July 1928 in Le Raincy in France.
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