Marie Levoyet

Photo engraver

©Caroline Lamour

©Edouard Elias

©Eric chenal

Mediator between past and present

Marie's art is very rare and practised by few
Her efforts go into developing the techniques for colour printing
She works closely with photographers and artists

Originally trained in textiles, Marie Levoyet knew nothing about grain engraving, a very ancient technique practised by very few people in France and in the world. In 2015 she met Fanny Boucher, one of the last people in France to practise this craft and it changed her life forever. Marie decided then to dedicate herself entirely to grain engraving and to specialise in colour. Today, Marie has her own atelier in which she has crafted her own creative universe. She collaborates with photographers and artists who ask her to make their images into gravures. But Marie's skill is more than a work of image transfer: it is also about in-depth research on new themes, developed with ancient techniques. Her passion lies in the sense of identity she associates with this craft from the Mediterranean area.

Interview

©Edouard Elias

©Eric chenal

How do you define your profession?: Grain gravure printing is a 19th century photomechanical process that is at the crossroads of the worlds of photography and printing. Light is the link, because it fixes and reveals the photographic image that disappears at first, and is then reborn in a different way.
In what sense is insularity your main interest?: I am interested in geographical insularity, but mostly in emotional and sensory insularity. I try to consider each territory, each group of individuals, each practice as a separate island. They exist on the outside, and yet are in constant exchange with others.
Could your craft be considered in danger?: I am one of the very few in France and perhaps in the world to practice this art. For an ancient and niche technique such as gravure it is not so bad. I have to believe a lot in what I do, and be passionate about this technique.
What do you love most about your craft?: The connection with different creative universes enriches me a lot. It allows me to be in constant search around the possibilities of my craft, exploring the links with artists from a variety of fields.

Marie Levoyet is a rising star: she began her career in 2018 and she started teaching in 2021