Visiting the Atelier du Livre d'Art & de l'Estampe of the Imprimerie Nationale
- Dec 12, 2025
- 4 min read
Les éditions Leal Torres entrust the production of a large portion of their books to the Atelier du Livre d'Art & de l'Estampe (Art Book & Print Workshop) of the Imprimerie Nationale (National Printer), a living and tangible heritage maintained by the Imprimerie Nationale, which became IN Groupe in 2018. Our team recently had the pleasure of visiting the Atelier to observe the progress of our ongoing projects and to film a documentary about the birth of a book. Discover the behind-the-scenes process of bookmaking and the unique expertise that makes ours so exceptional!
Contents
The unique history of an extraordinary workshop
It is generally accepted that the history of the Imprimerie royale (Royal Printer) begins in 1538, when Francis I appointed the first royal printer for the Greek language, who would become the printer for Greek, Latin, and Hebrew in 1540. The Imprimerie royale, officially established in 1640 by Cardinal Richelieu during the reign of Louis XIII, was dedicated to supporting the printing and publication of a variety of books. It was at this time that the printer began publishing bibliophile editions illustrated by artists, the first notable examples of which include the works of Virgil and Horace, featuring frontispieces by Nicolas Poussin. The name of the Imprimerie royale changed with each successive political regime: Imprimerie royale, Imprimerie de la République, Imprimerie impériale, Imprimerie royale again, and Imprimerie nationale since 1870.
Beyond transmitting ancestral know-how, the Imprimerie nationale has the mission to preserve a heritage that includes the more than 30,000 volumes held in its historical library, as well as printing equipment, which includes some one hundred printing presses and a collection of 700,000 engraved pieces, including some 230,000 unique punches, collection that has been listed as a historical monument since 1946 and is preserved by the Atelier du Livre d'Art & de l'Estampe.
The Atelier du Livre d'Art & de l'Estampe of the Imprimerie nationale is thus a unique entity in the world, drawing its roots from the history of typographic writing. With its long history, its unparalleled expertise and the diversity of its collections (more than 65 scripts from around the world), it represents the living history of the printed book.
An exceptional expertise
As a guardian of ancestral know-how, the Atelier du Livre d'Art & de l'Estampe of the Imprimerie nationale comprises a dozen artisans and master craftsmen whose expertise in letter design and typeface creation, punch engraving, type casting, Latin and Oriental typesetting, mechanical typesetting, letterpress printing, intaglio printing and finishing is recognized worldwide.
Covering the full range of artistic crafts that make up the history of printing and its techniques, the Atelier du Livre d'Art produces bibliophile editions, artists' books, and limited-edition publications for publishers, artists, and institutions of all kinds.
An inspiring partnership
En suivant la naissance d’une oeuvre littéraire, La Légende de saint Julien l'Hospitalier, premier des Trois Contes de Gustave Flaubert, ces livres offriront au lecteur l’expérience d’une plongée concrète dans les réalités de la création littéraire et artistique. Restitués dans une qualité proche des autographes originaux de la BnF, éclairés par un récit de genèse qui les commente en détail, les fac-similés et les transcriptions des scénarios, brouillons et mises au net, permettront au lecteur d’assister à l’émergence du conte de Flaubert, comme s’il était caché derrière l’épaule du maître.
Les éditions Leal Torres have collaborated with the Atelier du Livre d'Art & de l'Estampe of the Imprimerie nationale since 2020 on the creation of a large portion of their publications. To date, three books have been printed by the Workshop, and three others are currently in production, two of which are co-published with the Atelier du Livre d'Art & de l'Estampe.
Exploring the genesis of a book, Comment naît un livre ? and its companion volume Powers of the Book represent the encounter between a textual journey conceived and written by Pierre-Marc de Biasi, Emeritus Director of Research at the CNRS, and previously unpublished prints by the internationally renowned bookbinder Louise Bescond.
By following the genesis of a literary work, The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitaller, the first of Gustave Flaubert's Three Tales, these books offer the reader a unique immersion into the realities of literary and artistic creation. Presented in a quality approaching the original manuscripts held by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF), and illuminated by a detailed account of their genesis, the facsimiles and transcriptions of the scenarios, drafts, and final versions will allow the reader to witness the emergence of Flaubert's tale, as if hidden behind the master's shoulder.
Behind the scenes of bookmaking
To share the creation of a demanding bibliophile work about the birth of a captivating book with a wider audience, we enlisted the help of photographer, director, and art director François Goizé. For several months, he has been following the production of Comment naît un livre ? and Powers of the Book to create a documentary that will further explore the creation of a rare work about the birth of a 19th-century book that continues to fascinate.
The documentary, scheduled for release in February 2026, will follow the fascinating work of the dedicated team of professionals at the Atelier du Livre d'Art & de l'Estampe of the Imprimerie Nationale, who work tirelessly to create exceptional books. By showcasing the expertise of the Workshop's various trades, this documentary aims to highlight the commitment of these men and women to traditional skills, their preservation, and transmission.
An inspiring commitment to transmission
The Atelier du Livre d'Art & de l'Estampe of the Imprimerie nationale welcomes professionals in the field who wish to refine their skills and offer specialized training courses designed to pass on their knowledge of printing and production techniques, as well as providing artist residencies. The Workshop also opens its doors to visitors who wish to discover the heritage it preserves and promotes.
Thanks to its legacy, the Workshop is now a world leader in the design and printing of bibliophile books. Its experts are regularly invited abroad to contribute to the creation of state-of-the-art printing workshops.
To explore the subject further
Virtual heritage exhibition of the Atelier du Livre d'Art & de l'Estampe of the Imprimerie nationale
Armarium, Bibliothèque numérique des Hauts-de-France
Photo credit:
Lelag Vosguian (with the authorization of the Atelier du Livre d’Art & de l’Estampe of the Imprimerie Nationale)