The Musée de l'Image d'Épinal is presenting a comprehensive exhibition on Belgian artist Frans Masereel (1889–1972), widely credited as the inventor of the graphic novel in 1918 with his wordless narratives composed of black-and-white woodcuts. The show, curated by Samuel Dégardin, brings together loans from major institutions and a private collection to reveal the full breadth of Masereel's practice, which spanned drawing, animation, painting, theater, ceramics, tapestry, and satirical press illustration. It highlights his pacifist activism during World War I, his collaborations with writers such as Stefan Zweig and Romain Rolland, and his humanist vision of a unified Europe.
This exhibition matters because it rescues Masereel from relative obscurity—often confused with a wallpaper brand or relegated to footnotes in art history—and positions him as a key figure of early 20th-century modernism. By showcasing his diverse output and political engagement, the show underscores the enduring power of visual storytelling and the graphic novel's roots in fine art. It also reaffirms the Musée de l'Image's role as a specialist institution dedicated to the art of the image, making a strong case for Masereel's place alongside his better-known contemporaries.