La chevelure (The Hair)

Inspired by Nusch Eluard, fellow artist Paul Eluard’s wife and muse, this book by Hugnet and Tanguy was a gift to artist Marcel Duchamp, romantic partner to Mary Reynolds. The collaged cover, unusual paper, and italicized serif font give the book a precious, hand-made aesthetic that heightens the dreamy adoration of the poem printed within.

Georges Hugnet’s poem La chevelure is printed on deep, blood red paper, and wrapped in a reflective gold paper cover anchored by a collage by Yves Tanguy. A pair of women’s hands caressing jewelry emerge from a torn fragment of black paper bearing the book’s title written in gold ink. Tanguy produced a unique collage for each of 15 artist copies of this edition, designated by 15 letters of the alphabet. The Art Institute holds copy “D,” which is signed by both Hugnet and Tanguy and dedicated to artist Marcel Duchamp, praising him as “fluorescent.”

The many social connections intertwined in this one little book embody the collaborative community of Surrealists, which included many talented artists and writers. One hundred copies were printed all together.