From March 24 to September 20, 2026, the Musée Regards de Provence presents the exhibition Dubout, the Art of Drawing Everything, paying tribute to one of the greatest French illustrators of the 20th century, a native of Marseille, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of his passing.
Albert Dubout (1905–1976), a master of line and satirical observation, shaped more than fifty years of artistic life through a prolific, inventive body of work of exceptional scope. Born in Marseille, Dubout explored all forms of graphic expression — press illustration, book illustration, posters, painting, cinema, advertising, and animation — with unmatched virtuosity and humor.
One of Dubout’s defining features is the extraordinary graphic precision of his drawings. Using a special steel nib and a large magnifying glass, he composed—particularly in the 1930s—scenes of remarkable density, populated by hundreds of characters arranged across multiple planes. These miniature works, unmatched in their finesse in the history of drawing, demonstrate exceptional technical mastery. After the war, his style evolved toward more pared-down compositions, as prolonged use of the magnifying glass had ultimately damaged his eyesight.
This exhibition highlights these two stylistic periods—the first, virtuosic and densely packed in the 1930s; the second, more synthetic—while emphasizing the consistency of his perspective: ironic, tender, and always deeply human.
Humour, social observation, and emblematic figures—including the famous “Dubout couple”—appear alongside his works on cats and his notable collaborations with Marcel Pagnol. A discreet painter, Dubout also produced 77 oil paintings on canvas, reflecting his southern French world and his boundless creativity.
Awarded the Légion d’honneur and recognized during his lifetime, Albert Dubout remains today an essential reference in French illustration and caricature.
Practical Information and Visits at Musée Regards de Provence
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Temporary exhibition ticket: Full Price: €8.50. Reduced rates: €8.00 – €7.00 – €6.00 – €4.50 – €3.50.
Guided visits for individuals (not groups): entry ticket + €7 per person, on Tuesday and Saturday at 3 p.m., by reservation.
Guided visits for groups: entry ticket + €7 per person, every day by reservation.
Free guided visit for individuals (not groups) on the first Saturday of each month at 10:30 a.m., excluding entry ticket (full price), by reservation (6 to 25 people).