White Mane; text by Albert Lamorisse and Denys Colomb de Daunant

White Mane, published in 1954, was crafted as a literary companion to Albert Lamorisse’s acclaimed 1953 short film, Crin-Blanc. The narrative follows the poignant connection between a young boy named Folco and a wild, untamable white stallion in the Camargue region of southern France. By transposing the visual poetry of the film into a print medium, the book captures the stark, elemental beauty of the landscape and the fable-like quality of the bond between human and animal.

The book’s design relies heavily on striking black-and-white photography that mirrors the cinematic vision of Lamorisse, who directed and produced the original film. Collaborating with Denys Colomb de Daunant, Lamorisse aimed to create a visual experience that transcended traditional children’s literature, grounding the story in a rugged, realistic setting. Upon its release, the work was celebrated for its haunting atmospheric quality and became an enduring classic of French storytelling, noted for its minimalist prose and evocative imagery.