Achille OUVRÉ (1872–1951) Achille Ouvré is a French designer, illustrator, and engraver active in the first half of the 20th century, primarily known for his work in the publishing and official imagery sectors. Trained in the academic tradition of drawing and engraving, he collaborated with several administrations and publishing houses, notably in the philatelic field. He worked for the Post Administration, creating preparatory drawings and studies for stamps, particularly for the territories of the French Protectorate in Morocco. His work is part of the institutional orientalist movement, characterized by an idealized and architectural vision of North Africa, intended to illustrate French cultural and administrative power. Ouvré excels in the representation of kasbahs, fortified cities, arid landscapes, and scenes of local life, with a keen sense of composition, contrast, and graphic readability—essential qualities for stamp engraving. His preparatory drawings, rarely preserved, bear witness to a high level of technical mastery and today constitute sought-after documents at the intersection of art, colonial history, and philately. ⸻ Description of the work Stamp study – Morocco, Kelaa des Mgouna This is an original preparatory drawing by Achille Ouvré for a Moroccan postage stamp project, depicting the Kelaa des Mgouna, a famous fortified city in southern Morocco. Artistic description The composition shows a city of stacked kasbahs, built of earth, dominating a hilly landscape crossed by a river. In the foreground, figures in traditional clothing animate the scene, reinforcing the orientalist and narrative character of the image. The architecture is treated with great geometric precision, while washes and gradients add depth and atmosphere. The drawing is framed by a decorative cartouche integrating typographic elements (face value, mention "MAROC," Arabic inscriptions), typical of projects intended for stamp engraving. The overall work closely resembles the stamp that was eventually issued, of which a specimen is visible for comparison. Technique and dimensions • Technique: ink and wash drawing (preparatory study for engraving) • Height: 36 cm • Support: paper • Period: circa 1920–1930 • Artist: Achille Ouvré (1872–1951) ⸻ Interest and rarity Preparatory drawings for stamps are significantly rarer than the stamps themselves. They are prized pieces for: • collectors of colonial philately, • enthusiasts of Orientalism, • collectors of original 20th-century drawings, • historians of French colonial iconography. This work, due to its unusual size for a stamp study and its excellent level of finish, can be considered a reference piece of Achille Ouvré's work. Recommended products Provided by Recommended products Provided by Beautiful Drawing Ink 1930 portrait woman veil orientalist Orientalism Morocco Art See the product Authenticity: Original Type: Drawing Country of origin: France Material: Ink Genre: Orientalism