Marivaux/Becat - Marivaux - 1952

Six volumes in 8°, 263 pp., 235 pp., 260 pp., 260 pp., 223 and 249 pp.
Marivaux Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de,

Illustrator: BECAT (Paul-Emile). Illustrated. 6 volumes, illustrated with copper engravings by Paul-Emile BECAT. Paris, Arc-en-Ciel, 1952, 6 small octavo volumes in loose-leaf sheets, cream-colored folded covers, printed in pink and black, cases and boxes in antique pink marbled, title labels in red leather look, Copy no. 252 of this edition of Marivaux’s best works, produced in 6 volumes printed in 2200 copies (the first volume is the only numbered one), one of 1899 copies on rag paper from Papeteries du Marais. The typography is signed by D. Viglino, the copper engravings were printed by F. Nourisson under the direction of the artist and hand-colored with stencils by the Renson Fils workshops.

Tome I: Les surprises de l'amour, 6 hors-texte; Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard, 4 hors-texte; L'Ecole des mères, 2 hors-texte. Tome II: La double inconstance, 6 hors-texte; La Seconde surprise de l'amour, 6 hors-texte. Tome III: Les serments indiscrets, 6 hors-texte; L'Epreuve, 4 hors-texte; La dispute, 2 hors-texte. Tome IV: Les Fausses confidences, 6 hors-texte; Le Legs, 4 hors-texte; Les Sincères, 2 hors-texte. Tome V: Arlequin poli par l'amour, Le préjugé vaincu, 4 hors-texte; L'Heureux stratagème, 6 hors-texte. Tome VI: La Vie de Marianne, 12 hors-texte.

The plays and novels of Marivaux show notable psychological insight. Often immersed in the game of love and chance, the characters, by taking part in role-playing and assuming identities, discover themselves and the others behind the masks. The often farcical situations and the virtuosity of the wordplay should not eclipse the depth of this work, for what is at stake in the "marivaudage", despite its light tone, is identity and happiness.

This edition, with its elegant typography and charming illustrations, offers a beautiful frame for this literary work. The interior and the illustrations are in perfect condition, the bindings are somewhat rubbed and worn, and the red leather of the spine has faded.

Paul-Emile Becat (1885-1960) was awarded the Grand Prix de Rome, a medalist, and exhibited at the Salon of French Artists. A classically trained artist, he made several portraits of avant-garde writers, such as Paul Valéry, Claudel, Léon-Paul Fargue and Jules Romains (Bénézit, I, 558). He became a specialist in etching, illustrating numerous erotic books with this technique, among them "Thirty-two Poems of Love" by Paul Reboux, "The Libertine Works of the Poets of the 19th Century", "Aphrodite" and "The Secret Songs of Bilitis" by Pierre Louÿs, "The Playful Works" by Alexis Piron, "The Indiscreet Jewels" by Diderot, "The Dangerous Friends" by Choderlos de Laclos, "The Friends" by Verlaine and "The Life of the Gallant Ladies" by Brantôme.