Etienne DAVODEAU Rétrospective
Presentation
Huberty & Breyne, Paris | Chapon - 19 is pleased to present an exceptional retrospective exhibition dedicated to the work of Étienne Davodeau. For over thirty years, this leading figure in contemporary French comics has been developing a unique body of work at the intersection of reportage, historical inquiry, personal narrative, and social fiction.
Seeing and Understanding
Étienne Davodeau is a pioneer of documentary comics. With Rural! in 2001, he was already laying the groundwork and paving the way for a form of comic journalism that is humanistic, socially conscious, and deeply committed to social issues. This approach is further explored in works such as Les Ignorants (2011), Le Droit du sol (2021), and Là où tu vas (2025), which has just been published by Futuropolis. In the latter, he casts himself in the story to better depict his partner's professional daily life through a journey to the land of faltering memory. This constant care for others is also evident in his fictional work, which includes, among others, Lulu femme nue (2008-2010), Les couloirs aériens (2019), and Loire (2023) titles that all underscore the fragility and sensitivity of human nature. His work constitutes a human and social cartography of contemporary France, attentive to voices that are often invisible.
Techniques in the Service of Storytelling
This exhibition, featuring original artwork and illustrations, highlights the diversity of graphic techniques developed by Etienne Davodeau over the decades. His fine, instantly recognizable line combines documentary precision with narrative expressiveness. His work is based on meticulous observation: field research, interviews, and prolonged immersion in the environments he depicts. This rigor is reflected graphically in ink drawings with fine, supple, and lively lines. Perhaps most surprising is his consistently varied choice of graphic treatment depending on the subject, ranging from small black-and-white panels to large-format direct-color illustrations.
A Facilitator
In Etienne Davodeau's work, the comic book becomes a space for encounter: between generations, between social circles, between bodies of knowledge. The author often puts himself in the story, embracing his role as an investigator, a learner, and a witness. This reflective stance gives his work a strong ethical dimension: it is not merely about telling a story, but about understanding, listening, and passing on knowledge.
Opening
Wednesday 1st April 2026
from 6:00 p.m
in the presence of the artist
Exhibition
From Thursday 2 April
to Saturday 25 April 2026
PARIS | Chapon - 19
19 rue Chapon 75003 Paris
Wednesday > Friday 1.30 pm - 7.00 pm
Saturday 12 pm - 7.00 pm