Jack Abeillé

Parisiana (1904)

Jacques Abeillé was born on either 27 or 28 May 1873 in La Varenne-Saint-Hilaire, the son of Pierre Fernand Abeillé by his wife Émilie Augustine Lechap. Both of his parents were painters.[1][2]

Taking the pseudonym "Jack Abeillé", he made his debut as an illustrator in the magazine La Caricature and La Chronique amusante in 1891. Three years later, he replaced Paul Balluriau as artistic director of the magazine Fin de Siècle founded by the financier François Mainguy. In 1912, he was appointed editor of a new review called Élégances.

Until 1914, his contributions as a press illustrator were numerous: we find his signature in the Almanach Vermot, L'Amour, L'Assiette au Beurre, Comœdia, Le Frou-frou, Heures littéraires, Jean-qui-rit, Le Journal de Paris, Le Journal pour tous, Lisez-moi bleu, Mois Gai, Mon beau livre, Nos loisirs, Pages folles, Parisiana, Le Pêle-mêle, Le Petit Bleu, Rabelais, Ridendo, Le Rire (from 1894), La Semaine de Suzette, Le Sourire, Touche à tout, L'Univers illustré, La Vie en rose, and Zig-Zag.

During this period, he composed a few posters (he had a very active workshop), exhibited his pen drawings and watercolours at the Salon des humoristes, and seems to have been close to the designer Henri de Sta, Joze Dobrski de Jastzebiec (1861–1933) known as "Victor Joze", and the playwright Léon Valbert. In addition to the press, he worked for publishers. Most notably, he was one of the illustrators of the Modern-bibliothèque ("Modern Library") collection launched by Arthème Fayard and the Maison Quantin.[1][3] In a more discreet way, he was the author of erotic illustrations for works sold by subscription.

After 1918, we find his signature in periodicals such as La Grimace, Le Sans-Gêne, the Journal amusant, and Parisiana. His last works seem to have appeared in 1935 and 1936, for book publishers; we find his signature at the same time in Police magazine.