The Firmin Bouisset space
Immerse yourself in the world of Firmin Bouisset, a painter and poster artist born on the banks of the Tarn at the Bidounet mill in Moissac. This pioneer ofmodern advertising at the end of the 19th century created such iconic characters as the Petit écolier from LU, the Pierrot from Chocolat Poulain and the little girl from Chocolat Menier.
In his time, Firmin Bouisset revolutionised the advertising poster by placing the child at the heart of the image, as a unique character and brand icon. Come and discover all his work: from the most famous posters to lesser-known nuggets.
The Maison d'Espagne, the new showcase for Bouisset's works
"A museum of paper
A museum dedicated to Firmin Bouisset opened its doors in July 2021 in Castelsarrasin. Discover it in the magnificent Maison d'Espagne, a 17th-century red-brick mansion restored for the occasion.
Let yourself be transported back to the Paris of the Belle Époque, as you wander through the two floors of the Espace Firmin Bouisset, where over a hundred works by this talented artist await you. Stroll through the exhibition rooms and admire his most famous advertising posters, playful and colourful, as well as his paintings, engravings and numerous illustrations. It's a wonderful way to immerse yourself in a period when the arts were booming.
Firmin Bouisset, an avant-garde artist
Drawing as a vocation since childhood
Born in Moissac in the Tarn-et-Garonne region in 1859 into a modest family of millers, Firmin Bouisset spent a happy childhood, always with pencils in hand, sketching the surrounding countryside, the setting for his youth.
It was then that the arrival of a Toulouse artist named Louis Bordieu changed young Firmin's destiny forever. While Louis Bordieu was working on the decorations for the theatre in Moissac, Firmin discreetly observed the master glass-maker without daring to speak to him. Until the day he took the plunge, Bordieu saw the young boy's passion and asked him to follow him to his workshop in Toulouse to become his apprentice. During his apprenticeship, Firmin Bouisset was exposed to all forms of art and took part in a number of major projects. Bordieu encouraged his young pupil to pursue his artistic career by encouraging him to attend the Ecole de Beaux Arts in Toulouse, and then the Ecole de Beaux Arts in Paris, during which time he won several awards.
Firmin Bouisset made a name for himself in the Parisian art world by taking part in the creation of children's books for famous publishers, including Nathan, with whom he had a fruitful collaboration.
Annie-Claude Elkaim
"As a graphic artist, lithographer and illustrator, Firmin Bouisset had a wide range of skills. But it was his talent as a poster artist that made him a household name. Certainly more than he could have imagined. Who would have thought, in a world where advertising images wear out and overwhelm us, that these characters would continue, a century after their creation, to embody the image of childhood better than anyone else?
Firmin Bouisset, the artist behind world-famous posters
Firmin Bouisset made his name as a poster artist. Hisadvertising adventure began when the Menier company asked him to take part in its communication campaign for its famous chocolate bars! His model was none other than his daughter Yvonne, then aged 9.
It was a quick success. The Nantes-based company LU contacted the artist to promote their delicious buttered biscuits, the first competitors of the English biscuit company. This time, his model was his son Jacques, who, like his elder sister, became the face of the brand.
Through these playful, simple and uncluttered images, Firmin Bouisset created a timeless style in the world of advertising, giving children a place of choice and sweeping aside outdated advertising with the flick of a pen. Many other companies called on Firmin Bouisset to design their advertisements.
Did you know?
The LU biscuits promoted by Firmin Bouisset are a symbol of time!
The biscuit is made up of :
- 4 corners symbolising the 4 seasons
- 52 festoons symbolising the 52 weeks of the year
- 24 dots representing the 24 hours of the day
Visit the Firmin Bouisset Museum in Castelsarrasin
Individual visit
You can visit the Firmin Bouisset museum on your own or as a couple, with family or friends.
You can also opt for drawing workshops and courses, or even organise your birthday party at the museum!
Firmin Bouisset museum
Maison d'Espagne
10 rue du Collège
82100 Castelsarrasin
From 01/07 to 30/09/2025
Monday to Friday: 9am-12pm / 2pm-6pm.
Saturday: 10am-12pm / 2pm-5:30pm
Sunday: 10am - 5:30pm
From 01/10 to 31/12/2025
Monday to Friday: 9am-12pm / 2pm-5pm.
Closed on weekends.
Exceptional closures on Easter Monday, Ascension Thursday, Whit Monday, May 1 and May 8.
Group visits
Are you planning a seminar, a works council trip or a day out with your club or association? The Tourist Office's group department organises tailor-made tours of Castelsarrasin and the Espace Firmin Bouisset.
School groups can also visit the Firmin Bouisset Museum.
Your contact: Marina Koess
05 32 09 69 36
visites@tourisme-moissacconfluences.fr
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