Lefranc Bourgeois

Lefranc Bourgeois is a French fine arts paint brand that traces its origins to 1720 in Paris, where apothecary Charles Laclef began producing colours after meeting the painter Jean-Siméon Chardin. The brand describes itself as a founding house of fine arts since 1720 and today offers the Flashe range of extra-fine paints, made in France, in formats including 80ml, 125ml, 400ml and 5kg.

The story of Lefranc Bourgeois, described as a founding brand of fine arts since 1720, begins in Paris near the banks of the Seine. Charles Laclef, ancestor of the Lefranc family and an apothecary by trade, met the painter Jean-Siméon Chardin and embarked on the production of colours. Chardin's studio was located above the shop, and because his apartment with its glass roof was too small for grinding pigments, he turned to the shop downstairs to have them prepared; the two men became friends, and the painter entrusted Charles Laclef with grinding his pigments and taught him the art of colour production. In 1753, Charles Laclef officially became the supplier of paints for the Palace of Versailles. The brand's Flashe range was born in 1954; in the 1980s Victor Vasarely collaborated with Lefranc Bourgeois to enhance Flashe and develop a dedicated range; Flashe became a favourite in art schools; and in 2024 Flashe Collector celebrated 70 years of Flashe, with 2025 bringing 16 bio-based Flashe colours.

Extra-fine quality paints with an iconic ultra-matte finish, made in France.

• Flashe

  Extra-fine quality paint with an iconic matte finish, available in all formats including 80ml, 125ml, 400ml and 5kg.

1. 1Lefranc Bourgeois NAlefrancbourgeois.com
2. 2History – Lefranc Bourgeois NAlefrancbourgeois.com
3. 3Flashe History – Lefranc Bourgeois NAlefrancbourgeois.com