Tourane, Jean. Firmin. Ides et Calendes. Collection des Ides Enfantine. By Jean Tourane.

des et Calendes, 1952. Amusing photographs of a pig and other animals by Jean Tourane (1919-1986), photographer, filmmaker, and painter. Text in French, illustrated boards, 26 pages, very good with a bit of wear at extremities. Printed in Switzerland with excellent reproduction quality. 

Jean Tourane (1919–1986), born Jean Briel, was a French animal photographer, filmmaker, and painter celebrated for his work featuring live animals dressed in miniature costumes. Beginning his career as a painter and wildlife photographer, he gained international recognition for transitioning his photography into film and television productions that brought dressed animals into charming narrative settings. He is best known as the creator of Saturnin, le petit canard, a popular French television series featuring the adventures of a clever duckling, as well as the feature-length live-action fantasy film Une fée… pas comme les autres (released in North America as The Secret of Magic Island). In addition to his contributions to children's entertainment and photojournalism, Tourane also served as the mayor of the French commune Le Val-Saint-Germain until his death.

Firmin (1952) is a rare and charming children's photo-album written and photographed by French artist, photographer, and filmmaker Jean Tourane (1919–1986). Published by Éditions Ides et Calendes (Neuchâtel and Paris) as part of their Collection des Ides Enfantines, the 26-page hardcover volume is highly regarded for its exquisite photogravure printing and whimsical storytelling.

Tourane, who would later achieve international fame as the creator of the iconic live-action animal television series Saturnin the Duck (Les Aventures de Saturnin), utilizes his signature style of animal portraiture to bring the story to life.

Key Narrative and Style

• The Plot: The story follows the adventures of Firmin, a clever and anthropomorphic little pig who sports a hat and smokes a pipe. Faced with the grim prospect of a visit to the local butcher, Firmin orchestrates a brilliant escape plan by borrowing a pair of wings from a friendly duck, taking to the skies to find freedom.

• Photographic Illustration: Rather than using traditional drawings, the book is illustrated entirely with real, black-and-white photographs of live animals. Tourane meticulously staged the animals with miniature props and custom costuming, capturing humorous and highly expressive compositions without sacrificing the animals' comfort.

• Playful Anthropomorphism: The volume highlights Tourane's early mastery of staging animals to mimic human behaviors and emotions. This distinct technique seamlessly blends the natural world with fairy-tale fantasy, a precursor to the method that would later define his filmmaking career.

Significance

Firmin serves as an important historical artifact of mid-century European children's literature and specialized animal photography. It captures the exact creative genesis of Jean Tourane's artistic career, laying the direct stylistic and thematic foundations for the beloved live-action puppet and animal television shows he would produce in the decades to follow.