Bertrand le Pautremat

Bertrand le Pautremat was born in Paris, France, in 1954.

From 1980 to 1990, he worked as a still-life photographer for advertising. During this time, he began experimenting with the technique of folding paper into abstract patterns and in 1990 conceived the idea of combining his two skills - photography and pleating paper - to make fashion illustrations.

He now uses this technique extensively for both advertising and editorial illustrations. Paper is Pautremat's tool of expression, just as others use pencil or paint. The passage of light through different thicknesses of paper reveals an intricate internal organization of folds, creating subtle variations of light and shadow.

In 1993, he illustrated Pierre Cardin's couture collection, as well as for Oliver Lapidus' collection in the same year.

The illustration shown here appeared in 2001 for the house of Liberty, and shows Le Pautremat's unmistakable style.