Martine is the icon of children’s literature in France. She is celebrating her 70th anniversary and is offering an illustration exhibition until April 11 and even a pop-up shop at the Gallimard gallery.

Martine is born in 1954

A cheerful and curious little girl born in 1954 from the imagination of Marcel Marlier and Gilbert Delahaye, Martine has experienced a thousand adventures, always embodying childhood and happiness. With undeniable success, the series today represents an extraordinary publishing phenomenon: its 60 albums have sold 120 million copies in French and 45 million in foreign languages.
The unwavering attachment of readers to Martine has been passed down from mother to daughter over several generations and, even more astonishingly, her notoriety has exceeded her readership : today Martine is known to everyone and is part of our lives as well as ours. history. Often cited and associated with the events we are going through, she has become a true popular icon.

Martine prints by the jolies planches

From 1954 to the present

In the 1950s, children’s literature was undergoing a revival and reflected the social and cultural changes of the time. With the end of World War II, authors and publishers turned to more optimistic and imaginative narratives, offering children stories that transported them to enchanted worlds. Themes of adventure, friendship and discovery are at the heart of many children’s books, providing young readers with welcome escapes and opportunities to explore new horizons.
It is in this context that Martine was born in 1954, when Casterman editions asked two of their collaborators, Gilbert Delahaye, author and typographer, and Marcel Marlier, illustrator, to imagine a female heroine for 5 to 8 year olds. . They will create 60 Martine albums which trace an enchanting journey through childhood.

Martine evolved to reflect social and cultural changes.

Over the course of the annual releases, the series evolves to reflect social and cultural changes. Martine goes through paid leave and going on vacation, the appearance of supermarkets, the democratization of sports, the liberation of women, the evolution of schools, urbanization, the appearance of computers…
Following the death of Gilbert Delahaye, Jean-Louis Marlier took over by bringing new scenarios to the Martine series, while preserving the spirit and charm of the previous works.
Today, despite the disappearance of the authors, Martine explores other horizons in places steeped in history such as the Louvre, Versailles, Brittany and, now, Paris, in titles which very naturally combine the drawings of Marcel Marlier and photographic decorations.

A popular icon

A popular icon, Martine has experienced dozens of journeys, from her genesis “Martine à la ferme” in 1954 to more modern adventures such as “Martine au Louvre”. Because yes, the eternal little girl has of course roamed the streets of the French capital. As evidenced by the album “Martine in Paris”, where our joyful protagonist marvels at the Sacré-Coeur, Notre-Dame or the Eiffel Tower! A fantastic exhibition, not to be missed in Paris !
Exhibition “Martine, the eternal youth of an icon”
From March 21 to April 11, 2024
Free entry, no reservation required
Galerie Gallimard, 30 rue de l’Université, 75 007 Paris