The Frenchman James Coignard is regarded one of the greatest masters of carborundum etchings.
James Coignard, whose style is somewhere between 'Nouvelle Ecole de Paris' and Informel, became famous particularly for his achievements in graphic art: When told about the technique of carborundum etching, with which relief effects can be created, by his friend Henri Goetz in 1968, James Coignard had discovered a new field of activity. His extremely successful experiments with the new complex method became the fundament for his international fame; but also painting, tapestry and sculpting - the early ceramics were followed by glass- and bronze works - count among the vital oeuvre of James Coignard.
With his gestic-abstract style, often interspersed with geometric or figurative elements, James Coignard established a universal sign language. Figurative leitmotifs are the letters A and B, which illustrate beginning and end of a line, as well as stylized profile heads.
James Coignard, who gained international fame from an early point on, is represented in numerous renowned museums.