Ar Seiz Breur, Breton artistic independence
Founded in 1923 at the Folgoët pardon by Jeanne Malivel, René-Yves Creston, and Suzanne Creston, the Ar Seiz Breur (The Seven Brothers) movement brought together around sixty Breton artists with a single ambition: to renew Breton folk art by combining Celtic tradition with a modernity akin to Art Deco. Painters, ceramicists, cabinetmakers, engravers, and sculptors combined triskeles, ermines, and spirals in refined creations. Dissolved in 1947, this avant-garde movement left a profound mark on Breton architecture and design. The Trégor region, with Ploumanac'h as its coastal jewel, is the cradle of this heritage. Several locations offer the chance to admire these works: the Musée de Bretagne in Rennes houses furniture, earthenware, and drawings; the Musée de la Faïence in Quimper displays pieces by Creston, Malivel, and de Langlais; and the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Saint-Brieuc exhibits the creations of Joseph Savina. This Trégor cabinetmaker, nicknamed the "wood embroiderer," ran his Celtic art studio in Tréguier from 1929 to 1970 and collaborated with Le Corbusier. It is a unique heritage and a body of work that remains visually striking for graphic art enthusiasts today.
