ABSTRACT
The evolution of the political landscape in Québec through the twentieth century led to a number of debates in the economic, social, and artistic spheres, which impacted the field of education. An excursion into the world of furniture design education between 1935 and 1965 will illustrate Québec society's emancipation and show the tensions that existed between two key figures, Jean-Marie Gauvreau and Julien Hébert, who both influenced education in furniture design and shaped the character of local furniture production. The question at stake for both of them was how to reconcile the richness of the traditional style expressed in handi-craft furniture production with the desire to value a modern identity in contemporary creations. Given Gauvreau's position, it is all the more remarkable that the -École du meuble is famous for its connection to painter Paul-Émile Borduas, who was fired from his teaching position after the 1948 release of Le Refus Global, a manifesto considered to have launched the Quiet Revolution.
