Renefer Website

NEWS 2008

Renefer in exlusivity for Notre Temps,

Special issue How the WW1 can be transmited ?
within Notre Temps magazine (nov 08),
is entirely illustrated by Belle Petite Monde's nicest pages.

"Belle Petite Monde, an artist's depiction of life in the trenches for children",

New Edition (only in French),
published by Somogy Art Publisher(Paris-London-New York).
Available at the end of october 2008
Presentation

Nanga edition, proposes two war's drawings booklet from Renefer
The first one presents the Soldiers in front of the Versailles' castle waiting for their draft in 1914. They are part of the firt Regiment of "Genie", based in Versailles.
In the second one, Renefer has drawn soldiers and devastated landscapes around Verdun, after the battle, in 1918.

Original drawings from "Versailles" booklet are for sale by the publisher who proposes a kitt of the two booklets and the framed original drawing. These drawings could be seen over the Internet : Versailles booklet

Librio, new collection Les Grands Librio,

19 Renefer's engravings are presented in this landmark book on the WW1 . Inside : "Carnets de Verdun" (L.Loiseau et B.Bénesh), "La Grande Guerre vue par les artistes et les écrivains" et "Mon papa en guerre" (JP. Guéno).
Presentation

"Histoires Littéraires"

'Study about the famous illustrated collections : Fayard, Ferenczi and Baudinière, a notable event of the French literature history.
Wood engravings of Renefer is presented.
Presentation
Histoires Littéraires N°34, Du Lerot Publisher

Juin - 2008's Results of the National Contest "Little artists for memory, the Great War seen by children"

This second session has been launched by the French National Office for Veterans (ONAC) during the last commemoration (2007 armistice day).

The contest, supported by the Ministry of Education,Xavier Darcos, proposes to elementary school's pupils (9 to 12 years old) to do historical researches on a WW1 soldier of their city and design a booklet of his story like the "soldat Renefer" did for "Belle Petite Monde".

more information : ONAC Website
Read the Contest's rules and the educational tools information
The Finalists
The contest is recommended by the Ministry of Education, see the "Bulletin Officiel N°24" of the 12th. of June for the 90th anniversary of the ending of the Great War (Mr. J.-M. Bockel's Press Conference, 24th. June, p8)
For further information , please read the Press book and the "communiqué"

20th. marsh : Adieu 14, on France 2 TV

In one month or in one year, the last french great war veterans will go. With him, the living memory of this conflict which has been the founding act of the Twentieth century, will disappear too. But this could as well be the time for the WW1 to really enter into History. The disaperance of the last "poilu" will represent a major upheaval; the french government has decided to organize a national mourning while families, association, artists and medias will pay their tribute and remember them.

The booklet "Belle Petite Monde" and the war engravings of Renefer are presented as a battlefield's testimony center around the memory.

2007

November- December 2007 - Launch of the National Contest - New session "Little artists for memory, the Great War seen by children" for this new year 2007-2008

This new session has been launched by the French National Office for Veterans (ONAC) during the commemoration of the 11th of november 2007 (armistice day).

The contest, supported by the Ministry of Education,Xavier Darcos, proposes to the elementary school's pupils (9 to 12 years old) to do historical researches on a WW1 soldier of their area and design a booklet of his story like the "soldat Renefer" did for "Belle Petite Monde".

The three finalists of the last session (2006/07)

Special prices of the last session (2006/07)

The Museum of the Great War, in Péronne, used to exhibite the Renefer aquaforte engraved right on the battlefield. Today, its' a drawing of a dead horse that has been presented during the "The Animals'War" exhibition - Until the november 25.
Results of the contest "Little Artists for Memory, the Great War seen by children".
This contest, run by ONAC, the French National Office for Veterans, for the commemoration of the 11th of november 2006 (armistice day) is designed for the elementary school's pupils (9 to 12 years old).
A national grand jury has selected 6 schools for the quality of their work regarding the historical, artistic and original content, including the degree of emotion expressed as well as the commitment of the participants in the project.
.........further details

- The three finalists
- Special prices

The contest will be held every year and most notably in 2008 for the 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War.

Awards ceremony and press conference on Tuesday 26 June 2007 at 11h30 - Hôtel des Invalides, Paris Contact : ONAC :33 (0)1 49 55 62 57

Tavet-Delacour Museum of Pontoise : Exhibition of "The Seine and Oise Confluent", painting from Renefer

"The Painters and the Oise river" exhibition - From May to September 2007

This is a good opportunity for Renefer's work to be presented again at the Pontoise Museum, he was a fervent actor of the Vexin Art Fair during 30's to 50's.

Maritime Museum of Rouen : exhibition of the "Rouen Ferry bridge, painting" from Renefer

"The Rouen ferry bridge (1899-1940)" exhibition
From April to September 2007

"Adieu 14", In one month or in one year, the last french great war veterans will go. With him, the living memory of this conflict which has been the founding act of the Twentieth century, will disappear too. But this could as well be the time for the WW1 to really enter into History. The disaperance of the last "poilu" will represent a major upheaval; the french government has decided to organize a national mourning while families, association, artists and medias will pay their tribute and remember them. (Authors Olivier MOREL / Jean-Marc SURCIN, Realization JM. SURCIN, Montage C. GRATON,BETULA Productions)
The booklet "Belle Petite Monde" and the research work on Renefer is presented as a battlefield's testimony center around the memory.

"Belle Petite Monde, an artist's depiction of life in the trenches for children" - Somogy Art Publishers, NY
Throughout the 4 years he spent at the front as an anonymous soldiers, Renefer steadily send descriptions and drawings of the daily life on the battlefield to his eight-year-old daughter, whom he lovingly nicknamed "Belle Petite Monde". This sketchbook is a first-hand account of the Great War. This book is identical to Renefer's original work and is remarkable for its "I was there" quality. It is a moving and poetic gem meant for children.

International Distribution by Flammarion and CDS,Inc.
SOMOGY Editions d'Art
Original sketchbook introduced by MG Thierry
Bilingual edition (French/English) co-edited by the Department of the Memory, Heritage and Archive of the French Ministry of Defence (DMPA)
"Belle Petite Monde" Presentation

2006

History Book fair - Verdun, November 11-13, 2006

Présentation of Belle Petite Monde to the third History Book Fair of Verdun
SUCCESS : Belle Petite Monde recognized as Best Sale for historical testimony and art book for a large public.
Event managed with the World Center for Peace, the Meuse General Council, the Ducher Bookseller and the « 14/18 Meuse » Association.

November 11, 2006 : French National Contest "Little Artists for Memory, La Great War seen by children"

Competition for 9 to 11 year-old children managed by the French National Office for Veterans (ONAC), The Renefer Association Renefer, the Great War Museum of Meaux, and the Departement of the Memory, Heritage and Archive of the French Ministry of Defence (DMPA).
Goal : To preserve and pass on the Great War veterans' memories to the youngest generation. Each class writes and illustrates a "notebook of drawings,poems and text relating to a story of a Great War soldier, such as Renefer's "Belle Petite Monde".

The 90^th years 's commemoration of the Great War presented by theFrench National Office for Veterans (ONAC) - exhibition throughtout France in schools, libraries, or public conference center, etc...

Renefer's illustrated letters, book (Belle Petite Monde) and engravings were displayed. Renefer is presented throughout the panels as an artist for the Great War Heritage:
Introduction - Writers and Painter - The Great War Heritage.

The exhibition opened on april,5 in the Hall of Honor of the Museum of the Army, (Hotel National des Invalides), with speeches by Mr Hamlaoui Mekachera, Minister for Veterans Affairs and Mr.Guy Collet, General Director of ONAC. The Renefer Association Renefer exhibited some interesting works from its collection including "During the fight, Somme 1916" port-folio and the booklet " Belle Petite Monde".

Renefer 's works are shown on the "The Bleuet of France" exhibition panels too.

The Battle of Verdun Web Site funded by the Meuse General Council and the Verdun Memorial presents engravings and drawings by Renefer.
Renefer's illustrated letters from war ois presented on the France 5 web site on Verdun, allowing the public to better understanding of the life of Les Poilus in the trenches.

2005

Correspondence et artwork of the Great War, 1914-1918, were exhibited at Andrésy (Yvelines, France) and at Chanteloup-les-Vignes for commemoration of the armistice on November 11.

The Renefer writings on the "French Brittany",

Travel invitation in the French Brittany area
A new collection edited by Jérôme Feugereux :
The French Brittany seen by the painters

Restoration of Black and White film made in 1957 Renefer's friend and fellow painter,Claude Naudin, and production of the film "Wandering trough Andresy with Renefer in 1957" (co-production with François Colin).

Illustration for "Noirmoutier", Octave Mirbeau

... followed by Letters to Monet, Loti, Hervieu
Sequences Edition, (Print at Rézé (44) in 2003 by Séquences).

Museum of Montmartre (Paris) presented Renefer's World War 1 artwork during the exhibition : "La Guerre des Crayons", about the children's drawings during the Great War.

2004

Creation of The Renefer Association.

... Further links