René Perrot (1912-1979) emerged as a versatile artist, constantly exploring new artistic and technical avenues. His renown primarily rests on his remarkable work in the field of tapestry, destined to adorn official buildings, ministries, and embassies worldwide. This exhibition offers the opportunity to rediscover the depth and sensitivity of his oeuvre through nearly 200 drawings, paintings, tapestries, and objects selected from the collections of the Mucem, the National Furniture, as well as private collections. Deeply pacifist, René Perrot was profoundly influenced by the events of his time, particularly by the ravages of the Second World War, a pivotal moment in his artistic trajectory.

Born into a family of teachers and farmers, René Perrot studied at the National School of Decorative Arts before embarking on a career as a poster artist, which was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War. Driven by antimilitarist convictions, he denounced the horrors of war through his engravings. After France's defeat against Germany, he was commissioned to investigate French popular traditions for the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions, thus bringing an artistic dimension to his observations of French countryside. Like many other artists, architects, and decorators of the time, his involvement in the preservation of cultural heritage allowed him to navigate the political upheavals of the era without significant trouble. His investigation, initiated in his hometown of Cuse (Doubs) and its surroundings in 1942 and 1943, extended to Cantal in 1944, then to Pyrénées-Orientales in 1945.

This period of intensive research resulted in the creation of a vast body of work, including nearly four hundred paintings and engravings, a significant portion of which is now preserved at the Mucem. These creations encompass a multitude of subjects, from architecture to landscapes, from craftsmanship to agriculture, thus offering a thought-provoking and meditative tableau of a changing France. His work reflects a precise yet idealized image, blending a quasi-scientific approach with a quasi-utopian vision of rural France.

Following this field exploration phase, René Perrot dedicated himself mainly to tapestry and teaching. Deeply connected to nature, he gradually replaced human presence in his work with animals and natural elements, which had perhaps disillusioned him. Fauna, flora, marine life, and minerals became his main sources of inspiration, nourishing the poetic universe of his creations. From 1945, he played a major role in revitalizing the low-warp workshops in Creuse, contributing to the creation of over four hundred tapestry designs for the Manufactures of Felletin, Aubusson, or the Gobelins. In collaboration with eminent figures such as Jean Lurçat, he actively participated in the revival of this mural art, thus leaving an indelible mark on the contemporary tapestry scene.