Jean Jullien
The French artist draws people, cats and beach days with a few bold lines — every picture lands in a second, no caption needed.
What it is
Jean Jullien is a French artist and illustrator, and his Instagram is a feed of drawings that need no translation. A thick black line, a couple of flat colours, one character — and you have a joke or a small observation about life. Captions are often a single word or an emoji: "Cool…", "👋", "Rue des dunes". The picture does the talking.
The account has around a million followers and more than two thousand posts. Many people first saw his work in 2015, when he drew a peace sign with the Eiffel Tower inside it after the Paris attacks and the image travelled around the world. The feed itself is a much lighter place, though: the sea, cats, people on beaches, awkward everyday moments and the plain fun of drawing.
Why we picked it
It's a rare example of doing a lot with very little. Jullien doesn't hide behind technique — a drawing can look like it took a minute, yet the pose, the glance and the timing are precisely judged. It's a great lesson for anyone who draws or makes visual gags.
The account is very much alive. When we checked, his bio listed upcoming shows: The Lineup group show in Lyon (opening 17 September 2026), Lugo at Shinsegae gallery (November 2026), The Republic in Paris (February 2027) and Green Screen at Kunsthal Rotterdam (July 2027). The feed has photos from The Lineup opening, where he and his surfer friends painted boards shaped by Shea Somma.
You can also see his drawings leave the page: a screenprint called "Brian" in an edition of 100 on Arches watercolour paper, and a skateboard collection with THE SKATEROOM where one original painting is split across two decks. And there are tiny everyday stories, like the time he spent far too long chasing a cat to check the pattern on its back.
Where to start
- Scroll fast and skip the captions — it's the quickest way to see how his visual language works.
- Find the posts from The Lineup opening to watch flat drawings turn into painted surfboards.
- Look for the beach pictures: sea, towels and sunbathers are a recurring favourite.
- Check the bio for his list of upcoming exhibitions if you'd like to see the work in person.
- If you draw, try copying one image in three lines — you'll feel how many decisions are packed into it.
Who it's for
Anyone who enjoys illustration and good visual humour. Designers and illustrators looking for a lesson in a pared-back, instantly recognisable style. People who don't read English or French — the words barely matter here. And anyone who wants something warm and funny between the heavier posts in their feed.
Quick answers
Do I need to read French or English? No. Captions are short, sometimes just an emoji, and the drawings work on their own.
Is it only illustration? Mostly drawings, plus exhibition photos, prints, painted surfboards and skateboards.
Is the account active? Yes. When we checked, the bio listed shows for autumn 2026 and 2027, and the feed had photos from a September 2026 opening.
