New York Philippe Labaune Gallery A landmark exhibition was presented Will Eisnerwidely celebrated as “the father of graphic novels”. The exhibition spans the entire career of a legendary cartoonist and offers a rare opportunity to experience Eisner’s groundbreaking artwork. It has 79 original works, including from Spirit,,,,, New York City Comicsand the almost complete introduction to the contract with God: Super, the series highlights Eisner’s profound influence on comic media.
To celebrate a tribute to one of the most influential artists in the graphic story, the beat is extended Philippe LabauneThe gallery owner and curator discusses the importance of the exhibition and its position in the wider artistic landscape.
Diego Higuera: What inspired Philippe Labaune Gallery to organize this interprofessional exhibition of Will Eisner’s work?
Phillipe Labaune: Since we opened the gallery, I want to participate in the exhibition of Will Eisner’s works. He has such a huge impact on the comic world, not only in terms of art style, but also in how we view the way the media tells stories. Eisner’s work goes beyond the typical boundaries of comics and lays the foundation for what we now know about graphic novels. His unique approach to blending text and images has inspired generations of artists and writers. Not only will he push the limits of comic art—he completely redefines the possibilities in the narrative aspect. I always think of my contribution. So, it’s been a long time since we’re so glad to finally bring this exhibition to life.
The exhibition is brought together thanks to a wonderful collaboration with Denis Kitchen. Denis is a respected character in the comic art world and I am lucky to be able to connect with him through mutual friends. From there, it was a back and forth process – working closely with him and Eisner Estate to ensure we can ensure that the works that best represent Eisner’s groundbreaking work and his legacy. We are very grateful for Denis’ help because his expertise is crucial to making the show a reality. It was an exciting process and I was so happy to see this show become a reality.
Fig Tree: Can you tell us more about the process of selecting 79 original works in the exhibition? Are there any challenges in curating this series?
Labaune: From the beginning, I knew I wanted the work in a contract with God. All of Eisner’s work is important, but that book, especially, is a special place for me – it’s a landmark in the media, which changes the conversation around the comics. So when I started discussing the exhibition with Denis Kitchen, I made it clear that a contract with God must be part of it.
I knew the first story was a contract with God, which was sold 15 years ago, so my focus shifted to the other three stories in the book, Super, Street Singer and Cookrein. In these aspects, the last two are “light”, because the theme is important, and even the drawings are closer to Eisner’s regular sequential art. It felt like he wanted to breathe after the first story, which was very close to his own experience of losing a child when he was young (Eisner lost his daughter’s leukemia at the age of 16). In the atmosphere and painting style, Super is the most powerful and closest to the first story. This is a powerful storytelling that shows Eisner’s mastery of blending text and images. I was so excited when Dennis told me that the late artist’s family would give us super family. The story is filled with deep emotional weight, making the contract with God so groundbreaking. We show this fact one after another, which is indeed a fact that we have never done before. This is the first in our gallery.
Fig Tree: A contract with God is often considered the first modern graphic novel. How do you think of Eisner’s storytelling in “Super” continues to resonate with contemporary audiences?
Labaune: Will Eisner’s The Super continues to resonate with contemporary audiences as it explores serious and complex themes such as power, responsibility, and humanity. These themes resonate with the audience on a profound emotional level. Eisner’s ability to use comics to express emotional depth and personality psychology was groundbreaking at the time and continues to feel meaningful today. The rhythm, the transition of the panel, and his exploitation of the media’s potential to show inherent conflict (whether through close-ups or visual metaphors) still have the influence of modern comics and graphic novels. Super Challenges are idealized, invincible numbers that we often see. It explores what happens when those who intend to protect the public themselves struggle to cope with flaws, insecurities and personal suspicion. Contemporary audiences are increasingly interested in the more subtle and realistic portrayal of human nature, and they find a deep resonance with this theme.
Fig Tree: Eisner is not only an artist, but also a teacher and advocate for comics as a serious art form. How does this exhibition highlight his contribution beyond his own creative work?
Labaune: Highlights of this exhibition will show beyond his creative work by respecting his legacy and highlighting his role in elevating the comics as a serious art form. At the heart of his legacy is that he consolidates comics as not only a way of entertainment, but also a respected literary and artistic medium. Through his work, Eisner introduces a more nuanced, creative approach to storytelling that has lasting influence on the art of comics and its wider art community.
Eisner’s innovations go beyond his creativity; as a teacher and advocate, he played a crucial role in bridging the gap between comics and fine arts. His educational contributions, especially through his books, comics and sequential arts, helped establish comics as legitimate artistic and literary pursuits. This article remains a key resource for aspiring cartoonists, and while reflecting Eisner’s philosophy and process, gains a deeper understanding of visual storytelling. We hope this exhibition not only celebrates his creative work, but also shows how he influenced the development of comics, a respected art form for future generations.
Fig Tree: Philippe Labaune Gallery combines European and American comic artists. How does Eisner’s work fit into this broader artistic dialogue?
Labaune: Will Eisner’s work is suitable for the wider artistic dialogue in our gallery, which is the fundamental bridge between fine art and comics that fits perfectly with the gallery’s mission. Eisner is a groundbreaking force, redefining comics as a serious art form that blends visual storytelling with the depth and complexity of literature. His work goes beyond the traditional boundaries of the medium, using comics to explore profound human experiences and social problems in the same way painters, illustrators and other aestheticians.
The gallery’s focus on high-end narrative art and illustration naturally includes Eisner’s influence as his innovative role in shaping modern comics. Just as European artists like Hergé and Enki Bilal redefine comics through their unique visual style and literary themes, Eisner does the same thing in the United States, bringing together exquisite storytelling skills and craftsmanship with him graphic novels enhance, such as contract with God. His work shows that comics are not only a medium of entertainment, but also a legal form of artistic expression, which is the core of the gallery.
Fig Tree: For visitors who may not be familiar with Eisner’s works, what do you want them to take away from this exhibition?
Labaune: What I hope people take from this exhibition is that Eisner will change our view of comics, not entertainment, but a serious form of art and literature. Eisner is a pioneer, proving that comics can tell deep personal, emotionally complex stories that can fight with serious themes and resonate at levels far beyond the expectations of traditional genres.
The show is about respecting this legacy. This is to give people the opportunity to see firsthand why Eisner is so important, not just comics, but storytelling in general. His influence is everywhere, from today’s respect for the way graphic novels are graphic and narratives are in different media.
By placing these works in a gallery setting, we emphasize that Eisner is more than just a great cartoonist – he is the master of his craft, and he pushes the boundaries that media can achieve. Whether someone walks into what has become familiar with him or encounters it for the first time, I hope they leave with his profound attitude towards his achievements and his shaping art forms.
Fig Tree: I think it is important to have exhibitions like this, especially now. Have you seen such exhibitions affect the view of comic art in the art space? What do you think galleries play in legalizing sequential arts into a serious literary and artistic medium?
Labaune: Absolutely, exhibitions like this play a vital role in reshaping how comic art is viewed in the art space. For decades, comics have often been seen as a form of entertainment targeting a specific audience, rather than a legitimate artistic or literary medium. But by showing the works of groundbreaking artists like Will Eisner alongside illustrators from different disciplines, exhibitions like this help break the barriers that traditionally separate comics from the advanced art world. The public’s contact with these works in gallery challenges preconceived notions and elevates the comics into a refined multifaceted art form.
Higuera: If you are addicted to me, what do you want readers interested in this new project to say?
Labaune: There is no doubt that all Eisner’s work is important. What I want the audience to notice is Will Eisner’s portrayal of New York City, a city we all love! Eisner captures the complexity of the city’s various communities, buildings and their residents, making it a central feature in his story. His representatives convey the emotional weight and characteristics of the city, emphasizing the themes of isolation, struggle and desire. There are a lot of emotions built into it, and I hope readers like their meaning.
Located at 534 West 24th Street, New York, Philippe Labaune Gallery is open Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with Deep Eurots Roots, showing famous artists such as Loren Lorenzo Mattotti, Nicolas de Crécy, Guido Crepax McKean and François Comfort. In recent years, it has also become a hub for American talent, including Landis Blair, Rebecca Leveille Guay, Frank Miller and Peterde Sève, creating a vibrant community of art collectors and comic fans from all over the world.
The Will Eisner exhibition begins on February 13 and will continue until March 8, don’t miss the once-in-a-lifetime exhibition! For more information, check out their website here!
