Hand-drawn nautical charts
Nautical charts occupy an important place in the imagination of yachtsmen, and beyond that of all lovers of travel. While contemporary sailors are familiar with the codes of SHOM or British Admiralty charts and their wealth of information, not without an otherworldly flavour, old hand-drawn charts have a greater charm and warmth. In this vein, visual artist Marine Le Breton has published Cartes marines, Poésie du littoral français en 130 cartes.
This book of over 300 pages takes us from Dunkirk to Ventimiglia on handmade maps, whose free strokes interpret the coastline, combining rigorous information with the artist's freedom. The maps are divided into 4 sections: English Channel, Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pop, the last of which gives the artist free rein in his choice of color to freely interpret the coastline. They are associated with texts and quotations from specialists, artists and authors, evoking the art of cartography and its appeal.
Sailing between familiar shores and a thirst for discovery
Marine Le Breton's nautical charts are best enjoyed in small doses, to avoid routine. Beyond their undeniable aesthetic appeal and beautiful, embossed cover, they offer a wealth of inland navigations, alternating between the pleasure of rediscovering familiar coasts, with their familiar coves and islands and forgotten names, and the journey to shores where you haven't yet dropped anchor, and whose names still evoke the poetry of the unknown. The multicolored Gulf of Morbihan, with its Van Gogh-like vision of the Pop series, is not without its charms either. Although the format is generous, we sometimes wish we could capture even more detail.
The texts are varied and won't resonate with all readers, but between a cartographer's eye and quotations from Miossec or Victor-Hugo, everyone will be able to strike a chord.
Marine cards
Poetry of the French coastline in 130 cards
- By Marine Le Breton
- 304 pages
- 240x300 mm
- 50?
