Stéphane Fert
A Fresh Spell Cast Over a Timeless Saga
In 2023, to coincide with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Harry Potter series in France, Gallimard Jeunesse turned to a new artistic talent to breathe fresh life into the book covers of J.K. Rowling’s globally beloved saga. After a nostalgic box set illustrated by Jean-Claude Götting—who had first brought the French covers to life in 1998—Gallimard chose to chart a new course. The publisher tapped into the vibrant, expressive universe of French illustrator and comic book artist Stéphane Fert, a name well-known for his work in the realms of fantasy, folklore, and narrative richness.
Fert’s appointment marked a conscious return to the core of the Harry Potter experience as a literary adventure for young readers. With his rich storytelling ability and distinctive painterly style, he was tasked with visually rekindling the sense of awe and excitement that defines the series—this time for a new generation of children stepping into the magical world for the very first time.
Harry Potter Returns to Its Youthful Roots
According to Thierry Laroche, editorial director at Gallimard Jeunesse, the decision to update the covers was as much about tone as it was about aesthetics. “The first readers of Harry Potter are now parents,” Laroche explained. “A new generation has arrived. We want to speak directly to them by reaffirming from the cover that Harry Potter is a youth novel.” This new approach meant prioritizing narrative energy, whimsy, and accessibility—a visual return to childhood curiosity and wonder.
Laroche underscored the importance of retaining all the signature elements of the Wizarding World: “adventure, mystery, magic, chills, and friendship.” The new covers are deliberately more narrative than their predecessors, offering dynamic compositions rich in movement and emotion. They invite readers to search and discover, filled with subtle visual allusions and playful “Easter eggs” meant to reward close observation.
The Artist Behind the Magic
Stéphane Fert, already known for acclaimed graphic novels like Morgane and Peau de Mille Bêtes, brought a unique sensibility to this project. With a background in both animation and fine arts, Fert blends classic storytelling with visual experimentation. His influences range from Mary Blair and Mike Mignola to Lorenzo Mattotti, Frederik Peeters, and Taiyô Matsumoto—a diverse array of artists whose works explore stylized form, saturated color, and the fluidity of fantasy.
Fert is not a digital minimalist; rather, he is a true colorist, someone who enters the image through pigment and palette. Jean-François Sadaa, artistic director at Gallimard Jeunesse, praised Fert’s ability to “compose complex and living images that show the main characters alongside emblematic scenes… combining generous abundance, a multitude of details, and the energy of action.” His use of vibrant tones, layered textures, and sweeping motion imbues each cover with an animated, almost cinematic quality.
A Narrative in Color and Composition
Each of Fert’s seven covers tells a self-contained story while forming a cohesive visual narrative that traces Harry’s journey from an orphaned boy to a powerful young wizard. Rather than focusing solely on iconic imagery—like a lone lightning bolt or a looming castle—Fert immerses the reader in scenes of action and relationship: duels, rescues, moments of revelation and flight.
His compositions are never static. They pulse with movement and tension, yet are harmonized by careful color schemes and spatial flow. Characters do not simply pose—they interact, their expressions and gestures driving the storytelling. In this way, Fert revitalizes the books’ themes: courage, growth, loyalty, and discovery.
Most importantly, his approach is inclusive of new readers, reflecting Gallimard’s editorial mission to engage children not through nostalgia, but through contemporary visuals that resonate with their sensibilities. Fert’s covers are not only beautiful—they are readable, offering a layered experience where illustration becomes an extension of narrative voice.
A Bridge Between Generations
Gallimard’s return to French illustration, after years of commissioning international artists like Brian Selznick and Olly Moss, is also a cultural statement. Fert’s work reaffirms that French visual storytelling remains at the forefront of literary design. It honors the country’s artistic legacy while innovating in form and tone.
The collaboration with Stéphane Fert is not just a marketing refresh—it is a strategic effort to bridge generational readerships, inviting parents who once discovered Hogwarts themselves to now hand the story to their children, wrapped in new visual magic.
As Gallimard Jeunesse summarized: “Before the films, before the cultural phenomenon, Harry Potter was a youth saga that carries you into an extraordinary story. That’s what these new covers must convey. And Fert, with his flair for the fantastical and his deep understanding of Rowling’s work, was clearly the right person for the job.”
Visual Enchantment
In the vibrant, intricate, and energetic work of Stéphane Fert, we see a reinvigoration of the Wizarding World. The magical universe is not just preserved—it is rediscovered. Through brushstrokes and bold hues, he reinterprets Harry’s world in a way that feels fresh, heartfelt, and timeless.
By returning the saga to its roots in childhood wonder, Fert has not only created new covers—he has opened a new door. For every young reader who sees these books on a shelf, it might be the first step into a world that will shape their imagination for years to come.
And what better legacy could an illustrator leave than that?