This book was created from course notes written during the period 2001–2003 for DEA students in Mechanics at Jussieu, DESS students in ‘Separated Environments’ at Paris VI, and students at the École Polytechnique. I would like to thank all those who took the time to make remarks on all the different versions: C. Baroud, E. Brunet (brave readers of the first version), G. Degré, R. Dreyfus, J. Goulpeau, P. Joseph, L. Ménétrier, F. Okkels and H. Willaime. My thanks also go to C. Jullien for her multiple critiques, J. Bico who explained to me the subtleties of certain capillary phenomena, and A. Dodge who helped me considerably in.
