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About us

Founded in 1557 by the Montgolfier family and based in Annonay for centuries, Canson® perpetuates an unrivalled spirit of invention and excellence, combining the know-how of master papermakers with innovative technologies.

A world leader in the fine arts market, Canson® supports artists, designers, architects, cartoonists, enthusiasts, students and schoolchildren by producing a wide assortment of high quality papers, and since its origins has also defended the creation and place of art in society.

 

From the famous hot-air balloon with its paper envelope rising into the air for the first time in 1782, to white or coloured drawing paper, tracing paper, paper for oil or acrylic and the exceptional paper of Canson® Héritage Watercolour or paper for digital photography, Canson® is constantly making the creative adventure accessible to everyone.

 

Over the generations, the greatest artists and creators used Canson® papers: Delacroix, Van Gogh, Degas, Matisse, Picasso, Dali, Warhol, Jean-Michel Alberola , Barthélémy Toguo, Philippe Starck, Yan Pei-Ming... special bonds have been created with them, going so far as custom-made designs for them, as with Ingres and Maillol, or by investing strongly in them to bring them support and visibility.

 

Canson®, which was acquired in 2016 by the Italian group F.I.L.A., one of the world's leading groups dedicated to artistic expression, welcomes everyone to express their talents freely, with confidence and in a thousand and one forms of expression, thanks to the incredible range of papers made in France in an environmentally friendly manner.

 

 

Find out more about our history.