Michel Gourlier

After starting his career with Jean-Claude Alain as a designer for the Jamboree collection, Michel Gourlier worked successively for the Rouge et Or Collection in the 1960s, for Éditions Magnard in the 1970s, for the Signe de Piste Collection and the Nouveau Signe de Piste (he illustrated around 22% of the Signe de Piste between 1955 and 1964).

He also worked for the Nelson, Bleu et Or, Super 1000 collections, as well as for the Dargaud and Hachette editions.

In 1980, Michel Gourlier considered illustrating the work of Thomas Mann and in particular Death in Venice and produced large-format illustrations including a magnificent portrait of Tadzio. Some of the illustrations were exhibited at the KID Festival in Tourcoing in 1987.

Weakened and ill, he is said to have destroyed a large part of his originals and withdrawn to the southwest and walled himself up in silence. He died in 2018 in total solitude.