1932
Henri Matisse (French, 1869-1954) written by Stéphane Mallarmé (French, 1842-1898), selected by Matisse plates printed by Roger Lacourière (French, 1892-1966) text printed by Léon Pichon (French, 1876–1956) published by Albert Skira & Cie. (Swiss, founded 1928)
France
Matisse’s first livre d’artiste (artist’s book), Poems of Stéphane Mallarmé (Poésies de Stéphane Mallarmé) was the second publication produced by Albert Skira. The first was Pablo Picasso’s illustrations for Ovid’s Metamorphoses (Les Métamorphoses), published the year before. Both series use the simple power of the etched line to suggest volume and movement. In the case of Matisse, he avoided heavy shading so as not to detract from the ethereality of Mallarmé’s poetry. While inspired by the poems, Matisse’s prints stand alone as works of art and call upon some of his most iconic imagery: flowers, nudes, and portraits.
Book with letterpress in black and red and 29 etchings in black on cream wove Japanese vellum, bound in brown leather and brown paperboard cover with gold stamped spine