René Kieffer (1876 - 1963)

René Kieffer

René Kieffer was a French bookbinder, publisher and bookseller.

A pupil of Henri Marius Michel, he worked for ten years as a gilder at the Chambolle-Douroux bookbinding factory. In 1903 René Kieffer opened his studio in Paris, and in the same year his work was first shown at the Salon de la Société des Artistes-Decorators.

Over time, his work shifted from classical forms to Art Nouveau motifs. René Kieffer was known for using bright colors in elaborate designs, creating luxurious bindings for unique publications. Between 1917 and 1923, he created Pierre Legrain's designs for Jacques Doucet's library. As a bookbinder and publisher, René Kieffer was vice-president of the book department of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Decorative Arts and Modern Industry. He also participated in the International Exhibition of Arts and Technology in Modern Life in Paris in 1937.