Eugène Ionesco - Découvertes [dessins de l'auteur] - 1969

Eugène Ionesco. DISCOVERIES

Skira Editions, in the “Paths of Creation” series, Geneva, 1970, (21.5 x 16.6 cm), 130 pages, illustrated cover with flaps.

25 color illustrations by Eugène Ionesco, except the title page in black, most without text.

Original edition in very good condition, interior in excellent condition.

This book stands out for being illustrated by the author himself, presenting a collection of his graphic works (paintings and drawings), accompanied by his own reflections on art and life. The work explores personal and artistic themes, reflecting the sensibility of the Romanian-French writer and playwright (1909-1994), known for his Theatre of the Absurd. He is often regarded as a work of non-fiction or autobiographical essays, marking a period when Ionesco also devoted himself intensely to painting.

The Pathways of Creation collection, published by Albert Skira Art Editions between 1969 and 1976, represents a unique editorial venture at the crossroads of the arts, literature and visual thought. Directed by Albert Skira in collaboration with Gaëtan Picon, this collection brings together unpublished works by major writers, artists and thinkers of the time, invited to explore their own creative path by blending text and image.

The originality of the collection lies in its founding principle: each author is not only invited to write, but also to illustrate his own work, either by creating original images or by selecting existing reproductions. This act of self-illustration turns the image into a means of expression complementary to the text, sometimes even in tension with it, creating a singular dialogue between the verbal and the visual.

The authors actively participated in the design of the layout, in close collaboration with the editorial team, which reinforced the artistic unity of each volume.