A Life in Ink and Color
Henri Julien was a Canadian artist and cartoonist known for his work with the Canadian Illustrated News and his political cartoons for the Montreal Daily Star. Born in Quebec City, he apprenticed as an engraver at Leggo and Company in Montreal. During his career, he contributed to various publications such as Le Canard and Le Violon, sometimes using the pseudonyms Octavo and Crincrin. In 1888, after spending six months in New York, he became the artistic director at the Montreal Daily Star, making it the first Canadian newspaper to employ a full-time editorial cartoonist.
His work included caricatures of politicians and illustrated journalism. In 1874, he accompanied an expedition to the Bow and Belly Rivers in Alberta, producing drawings that appeared in several publications. From 1900, Julien took up painting, focusing on scenes from French Canadian culture. His paintings, such as La Chasse-galerie, have been held in collections like the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.
Artistic Contributions and Legacy
Julien was noted for his ability to capture expressions and gestures with speed and accuracy. His illustrations appeared in numerous Canadian and foreign publications, including Harper's Weekly, The Graphic, and Le Monde illustré. Some of his notable works include:
- Le Vieux de '37: An illustration for a poem by Louis Fréchette.
- Royal Military College of Canada Uniform of Cadets: A print appearing in the Canadian Illustrated News.
His work was featured in exhibitions at the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and the Salon of the Art Association of Montreal. A posthumous collection, Album Henri Julien, was published in 1916.
