Creative Translation: Ateliers Jouffre for Trafalgar

Below is a translation snippet from my longstanding relationship with Trafalgar, Maison de Portraits. The poetic stylization of the writing makes for a singular challenge to interpret each line individually, while not losing sight of the text’s informational cues while also maintaining an enjoyable cadence. “Threading the needle,” to stay on theme. This text was created for the Lyon-based upholsterer-decorator Ateliers Jouffre.

Le tapissier a cette habileté dans les doigts qui module la matière sans barrière, cette vision des volumes peu commune qui s’allume à la mention de mousses ou de plumes. Au sein des Ateliers Jouffre, il silhouette de ses ciseaux des tissus voués à se draper en toute dignité, manipule le fût comme un potier sculpterait l’argile sur son tour, interprète le tracé en jonglant avec les outils et un jargon aussi ancien que racé.

-Trafalgar for Ateliers Jouffre

The upholsterer has such skill in his fingers to modulate material into the sensorial, this uncommon vision of volumes that dreams up unexpected tethers at the slightest mention of moss or feathers. From within the Ateliers Jouffre, scissors in hand, he silhouettes fabrics whose destiny is to be draped in all dignity, manipulates the bole by feel as the potter sculpts clay on his wheel, and interprets an outline by juggling with tools and a jargon as ancient as it is finespun.

-Translation