Claude Lapointe, teacher loved by his students, has died: “I learned so much thanks to him”

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Claude Lapointe, talented illustrator and former teacher at the Strasbourg school of decorative arts, now Haute école des arts du Rhin (HEAR), died on October 6 at the age of 85, in the town of Valréas, located in Vaucluse.

On social networks, many former students paid tribute to him, as did the mayor of Strasbourg, Jeanne Barseghian.

A talented illustrator

Claude Lapointe was born in 1938, in Rémilly, in Moselle. He distinguished himself in drawing, more particularly in children’s book illustrationlike the Tales of Rue Broca in 1967, but also the German school book, Rolf und Gisela.

But in Strasbourg, he is known for having founded in 1972 l’atelier d’illustration within the school of decorative arts.

He left his position in 2005, but had plenty of time to pass on his passion to his students including Serge Bloch, John Howe, Blutch, Marjane Satrapi, Mathieu Sapin, Lisa Mandel, Camille Jourdy.

A teacher loved by his students

“He was part of our youth,” confides Caroline Jaegy, press illustrator, former student of Claude Lapointe interviewed by Actu Strasbourg. She adds that “it was a very good teachervery gentle, very calm. He had this passion for telling stories. He was one of the last to have had this passion. »

“My dream was to go to his classes. There was a ambiance at the workshop which was a little exceptional“, slips Marc Schweyer, another former student contacted by us. For him, Claude Lapointe was “understanding. He encouraged us to be who we wanted to be. »

“He was first my teacher in ’82. Then, in 1997, he called me back to become a lecturer in screenwriting and directing comics. I was then a professor. We were colleagues from 1997 to 2005. Every Thursday lunchtime, I continued to be at Claude Lapointe’s school. I owe him a lot“, book Joseph Hébé.

Rain of tributes on social networks

In recent days on Facebook, many former students of Claude Lapointe have also wanted to show him their recognition, respect and affection.

Under the Facebook posts, we can read testimonies like that of the illustrator Boulet: “There are teachers who change your lifeClaude was mine. I learned so much thanks to him, thanks to his advice and encouragement… This is very painful news. »

Or again: “I had lucky to have it a year as a decorative arts teacher, and one of his words still resonates in my head when I develop a project. Very sad news to know he is now deceased. »

Recognize illustration as an art in its own right

It is in memory of his merits that Jeanne Barseghian declared that he “has greatly contributed to the influence of this school, and to the recognition of l’illustration like a art in its own right. Among the many artists he trained, many became big names in the fields of comics, illustration, children’s publishing and press cartoons. »

She continues by saying that it “allowed Strasbourg to reconnect and excel on the international scene in a field deeply rooted in its history: that of books and printed images. Through the excitement around his work and his teaching, he will have, in some way and in his own way, contributed to making Strasbourg the UNESCO 2024 World Book Capital.”

His legacy will not be lost

“Claude Lapointe kindly donated of all his teaching archives at the Heritage center of the City’s media libraries,” revealed the mayor.

Jeanne Barseghian added that all her “thoughts are with his family and loved ones, with these generations of students whom he had a profound impact, with all those who often remember him through their pencils. »

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