Edy Legrand Français, 1892-1970

French illustrator and Orientalist painter

Born Édouard Léon Louis Warschawsky in Bordeaux in 1892, Edy Legrand studied at the Beaux‑Arts in Paris and the Munich Academy. After launching his career in advertising and book illustration, he devoted himself to painting and settled in Morocco from 1933, joining Jacques Majorelle’s artistic circle.

In Morocco, his vibrant scenes depict bustling souks, caravans, musicians, Rif women, and High Atlas landscapes painted in vivid palettes of greens, blues, and ochres. He regularly exhibited in Paris and Morocco, gaining recognition for his lyrical yet dynamic approach—eschewing mere exoticism to capture movement, color, and light.

In his later years, he lived in Bonnieux in the Luberon region of France, where he died in September 1970. Legrand’s legacy reflects a life split between France and the Maghreb, celebrated for its authenticity, expressive energy, and atmospheric depth.