Bertrand Dorny is born in Paris in 1931. After developing as a painter, he switches to graphic art. He develops a unique process based on zinc-cut shapes with height differences. These are printed in softened paper, so that the special relief (‘intaglio’), that is characteristic of his graphic work, is achieved.
In Dorny’s form language we mainly see the ribbon shape or strip return. Strips run slightly undulating, never tightly parallel, from one side of the composition to the other. Sometimes a strip crosses the other and sometimes strips wrap around each other.
In addition to limited-edition prints , Dorny makes collages, paper objects, wooden reliefs and assemblies, for which he preferably uses discarded material such as cardboard, driftwood and waste paper.
In 1991, Dorny quits his graphic work, which by that time consists of around 650 numbers. Since then he mainly produces collages and – in collaboration with famous writers and poets – book illustrations.
Bertrand Dorny dies in 2015, at the age of almost 84. His work can be found in museums and private collections all over the world.
