Since 1881, 49 rue du Montparnasse has been home to an art printing workshop. Here, the very presses once used by Matisse, Picasso, and Miró now run for Sophie Calle, JR, and David Lynch. Lithography remains alive. Here, you can still print on stone, develop your own project, and leave with an edition acquired from the boutique. Lynch even left behind a few strokes—strokes that should feel familiar to the regulars of Maison Sota.
At 49 rue du Montparnasse, the presses have been turning since 1881. Originally built for printer Eugène Dufrénoy, the workshop now houses the historic lithographic presses of Fernand Mourlot, forever tied to the editions of Matisse, Picasso, Miró, Chagall, Braque, and Giacometti. Beneath 1,400 square meters of glass roofs, Idem carries the craft forward with a new generation: Sophie Calle, JR, William Kentridge, and David Lynch have all come here to work.
Here, lithography remains a matter of stone, ink, and paper. The workshop preserves several tons of lithographic stones alongside nine presses, including six Voirin and Marinoni models. Artists can draw directly on-site or collaborate with the team from digital files; indeed, Idem champions a collaborative, experimental approach to printmaking. Prints are pulled on exquisite Japanese, Arches, or Rives papers.
One can also simply visit to acquire a piece. Idem publishes and sells its own lithographs, numbered and hand-signed by the artists, with Jean Jullien, Jean-Philippe Delhomme, Jeremyville, and David Lynch gracing the catalog. An accessible way to step into the history of the space, even without a stone of one's own to print.
David Lynch, in fact, was a regular. The workshop team recalls that at the crêperie next door, a certain table was known as his usual spot, where he would have lunch before returning to work at the presses.
And for those who have just dined at Maison Sota, the circle closes beautifully. Akiko Otsu, wife of Sota Atsumi and the restaurant's art director, used to work at Idem Paris. It was through this creative circle that David Lynch became involved in the project, designing the logo for Maison, while Tsuyoshi Tane imagined its architecture.
Taste
Montparnasse · Lithography · Stones & ink · Picasso · Matisse · David Lynch · Akiko Otsu · Maison Sota · Old printing presses · Artist editions
