Comte de Lautréamont / René Magritte - Les Chants de Maldoror - 1948

1 volume in-8 paperback, 190 pages - External wear without gravity at the back, fresh interior - Pleasant copy.

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The edition of The Songs of Maldoror published by Éditions La Boétie in Brussels in 1948 is one of the most famous illustrated editions of Isidore Ducasse's work.

The volume is embellished with 77 reproductions of ink drawings by Magritte, including 12 full-page plates and a vignette on the cover.

Magritte's illustrations

This edition has become emblematic thanks to the dialogue between Lautréamont's universe and Magritte's. The drawings do not seek to illustrate the text literally; they rather extend its strange, unsettling and poetic atmosphere. Magritte's surrealism sits particularly well with the imagination of The Songs of Maldoror, a work that the surrealists, notably André Breton, considered foundational to their movement.

Bibliophilic interest

The 1948 edition is now highly sought after. Copies are often described according to:

- their printing (common paper or luxury paper);
- their condition of preservation, notably the cover and the back;
- the complete presence of Magritte's illustrations.

Numbered copies on luxurious paper are particularly prized by collectors.

Importance

This edition is regarded as one of the finest illustrated editions of The Songs of Maldoror, on par with those adorned with engravings by Salvador Dalí or other twentieth-century artists. It remains a reference for lovers of Lautréamont, surrealism and the modern illustrated book.


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1 volume in-8 softback, 190 pages - External wear without gravity at the back, fresh interior - Nice copy.

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The edition of The Songs of Maldoror published by Éditions La Boétie in Brussels in 1948 is one of the most famous illustrated editions of Isidore Ducasse's work.

The volume is embellished with 77 reproductions of ink drawings by Magritte, including 12 full-page plates and a vignette on the cover.

Magritte’s illustrations

This edition has become emblematic thanks to the dialogue between the worlds of Lautréamont and Magritte. The drawings do not try to illustrate the text literally; they rather extend its strange, disturbing and poetic atmosphere. The surrealism of Magritte is particularly well suited to the imaginary world of The Songs of Maldoror, a work that the surrealists, notably André Breton, considered as the founding work of their movement.

Bibliophilic interest

The 1948 edition is now very popular. Copies are often described according to:

- their print (regular or luxury paper);
- their state of preservation, particularly as regards the cover and back;
- the complete presence of Magritte’s illustrations.

Numbered copies on luxury paper are particularly popular with collectors.

Importance

This edition is considered one of the most beautiful illustrated editions of The Songs of Maldoror, as well as those decorated with engravings by Salvador Dalí or other artists of the twentieth century. It remains a reference for lovers of Lautréamont, surrealism and the modern illustrated book.